December 08, 2016 · Written by Foodtolive Team
Top Body Detox Foods: How to Cleanse Every ‘Filtering’ System
Every health-conscious person today knows and understands the benefits of detox and a well-balanced diet. However, there is so much information on the subject that it might seem that anything can be a cleansing food as long as it hasn’t been processed. To help you sort all this info and develop a truly cleansing diet, we will provide a list of body detox foods as well as some other tips that will help you become a healthier person.
Body Detox Foods for Different Organs
First of all, you need to understand how exactly the ‘detox mechanism’ works. The purpose of a cleanse is to remove the toxins that get into your body through food and air. Considering the level of the environmental pollution, no one is completely toxin-free today, so this procedure is a good choice for everyone.
These nasty elements are removed from your system through your body’s natural ‘filters’, which are:
- Kidneys
- Liver
- Colon
- Lungs
- Skin
- Lymph
Although, there are some universal detoxifying foods, each of these systems requires a specialized approach if you want to achieve the best results. Therefore, you should plan a cleansing program that will work for all of them and will effectively ‘scrub’ your body free of toxins.
What to Eat to Detox Your Body Most Effectively
Kidney Detox
The role of kidneys in the body is to filter out toxins and waste from the bloodstream. Of course, some of these bad elements stay inside the organ, which can lead to numerous problems. Please note that a proper kidney function is essential for maintaining your overall health, so it’s imperative to keep this particular organ string at all times.
The best body detox foods for kidneys are:
- Cranberry juice.
Cranberry is the #1 natural treatment for kidneys because it contains elements that reduce the risk of inflammation and help fight urinary tract infections. Note that it’s always best to juice cranberries yourself as store-bought options may contain sugar and other additives, which make them bad for a detox program. - Beet juice.
This drink contains a very potent antioxidant betaine, which helps remove the buildup of calcium phosphate in the kidneys and reduces the risk of stones. - Citrus juices.
As they are acidic, these drinks increase the levels of citrate in your urine. This reduces the risk of kidney stones. Note that you should drink lemon juice ONLY diluted in water (4-5 lemons per quart). Lime juice needs to be diluted even further, but you can enjoy grapefruit and orange juices as they are. - Watermelon.
Plan your detox for the watermelon season and enjoy eating these delicious treats every day. This will do wonders for your cleanse as a whole and boost your mood as well.
Liver Detox
Our hectic lives, processed foods, and alcohol put a lot of stress on the liver, which reflects poorly on your overall health. If this organ cannot keep up with its filtering duties, your body gets slowly poisoned by the toxins that are stuck within. In some cases, it might get so bad that a person may require a liver cleansing supplement as well as restorative therapy for this system.
However, regular intake of these body detox foods for liver should protect this organ and prevent it from deteriorating.
- Garlic.
This food can activate liver enzymes, boosting its cleansing efficiency in a natural way. - Citrus fruits.
The best one for liver detox is grapefruit, although lemon and lime aren’t far behind. They also increase the production of natural enzymes that cleanse the organ. They are also rich in antioxidants and have an overall positive effect on your wellbeing. - Carrots.
Rich in beta-carotene, they stimulate liver function. - Green tea.
This antioxidant drink contains catechins that have been proven to aid liver function. Please note that you shouldn’t overindulge in this tea, a couple of cups a day would be enough. - Avocado.
This nutrient-rich food is not only one of the best smoothie ingredients. It also contains a liver-cleansing compound glutathione, which effectively removes toxins from your body.
Note that there is another food rich in glutathione, namely walnuts. Due to their unique chemical makeup, these nuts can help remove ammonia from your liver as well as support its function due to the high content of omega 3 fatty acids.
Colon Cleanse
Your gut is the home of your immune system, which means that the health of this part of your body directly reflects on your natural defenses. Body detox foods for colon must be a part of your regular diet, and serve as the basis of the cleansing program. Note that if this system doesn’t function properly, the rest of your detoxifying efforts will be ineffective as the harmful elements will permeate your tissues and bloodstream through the gut.
Best colon detox foods are:
- Dark leafy greens.
The benefits of this food are so numerous and varied, everyone should eat it, preferably every day. Colon-wise, these greens help because they are full of dietary fiber, as well as minerals and antioxidants. Note that all fresh fruits and vegetables contain fiber, so they are good for the colon by default. However, if you suffer from some stomach conditions, you might be better off eating cooked veggies.Sponsored by Food to live
- Cayenne pepper.
This spice makes your food more delicious as well as serves as a mucus dissolver. Mucus is present throughout your digestive system and is necessary to help it function properly. However, its buildup can be detrimental. Cayenne pepper will help prevent this problem. - Chia seeds.
These tiny seeds are potent colon cleansers. You’ll need to soak them for a few hours and eat the jello-like substance they turn into in order to achieve the maximum effect. They work extremely well for fighting constipation.
Lung Detox
Breathing in our polluted air means everyone is in a need of a thorough lung cleanse. Body detox foods for lungs include:
- Grapes.
They contain resveratrol, which inhibits the release of inflammatory compounds and serves as a potent antioxidant. - Pineapples.
These are believed to help the lungs restore and maintain their natural flexibility due to the content of bromelin. There might not be enough scientific evidence for this, but a glass of pineapple juice is sure to do you lots of good regardless. - Celery.
This food contains a lot of organic sodium, which helps remove carbon dioxide from the body. Celery juice is a must for people suffering from asthma.
Skin Detox
Any well-balanced cleansing program should improve the condition of your skin as toxins are often the cause of various blemishes. Please note that no detox body foods can be used as a treatment for acne as this problem is usually caused by a hormonal imbalance.
Natural skin cleansers to include in your full-body detox program are:
- Water.
You must drink 8-10 cups a day to boost the overall cleansing. - Olive oil.
It’s a source of healthy fats that will help keep your skin, hair, and nails hydrated. - Cold-pressed sunflower oil.
Another healthy source of fats that you can use as a salad dressing to make your avocadoes and leafy green veggies even more beneficial.
Lymph Cleanse
The lymphatic system is one of the major defense lines that protects you from diseases. Keeping it in good health won’t be easy and will require a massage as well as the inclusion of some special body detox foods into your daily diet.
- Pomegranates.
They stimulate the lymph circulation as well as provide you with a boost of antioxidants and vitamin C. - Berries.
Any kind of berries, especially cranberries, help your lymph move more efficiently. They are also rich in antioxidants. - Turmeric.
Turmeric is a fantastic anti-inflammatory food that will help boost your health overall, and lymph circulation in particular. It’s also good for the liver.
How Often Do I Need to Eat Body Detox Foods
As you can see from this list, these foods are easy to include into your daily meals, so consuming some of them very day is a really good idea. However, if your purpose is a total cleanse, you should design a diet plan of them only and follow it for 1-2 weeks. Please, remember to consult your doctor if you are suffering from any health conditions as diet changes may affect your treatment as a whole.
You can reduce the necessity of regular full-detoxes by giving up processed and junk foods. They are extremely detrimental to your general wellbeing and don’t bring much value nutrition-wise. Maintaining a well-balanced healthy diet will make you stronger overall.
