Detoxification — or detox — is a popular buzzword.
It typically implies following a specific diet or using special products that claim to rid your body of toxins, thereby improving health and promoting weight loss.
Well, this is not one of those posts, and your body is actually well equipped to eliminate toxins all on its own and doesn’t require special diets or expensive supplements to do so!
That said, you can enhance your body’s natural detoxification system. The body’s natural detoxification process is best supported by a balanced diet full of nutrients from all food groups. Vitamins and supplements can be helpful when you’re unable to obtain an adequate amount of nutrients through your diet.
However, it’s best to get these nutrients from whole food sources when possible. Despite how far science in supplementation has progressed, we are simply not able to create compounds or processes that work as well in the complex ecosystem of our bodies as nature does.
Your body has a sophisticated way of eliminating toxins that involves the liver, kidneys, digestive system, skin, and lungs.
Still, only when these organs are healthy can they effectively eliminate unwanted substances.
THE FOLLOWING NUTRIENTS CAN HELP SUPPORT NATURAL DETOXIFICATION & PROMOTE BETTER GUT HEALTH. If you are allergic to any of these foods, obviously avoid them and choose ingredients your body has a good reaction to!
Herbs and Spices:
• Cardamom
• Cayenne pepper
• Coriander
• Dandelion
• Ginger
• Hibiscus
• Lemon peel
• Nettle
• Turmeric
Prebiotics: Tomatoes, artichokes, bananas, asparagus, onions, garlic, & GF oats
Vitamins and Minerals:
• B vitamins: Brewer’s yeast, liver, wheat germ
• Copper: Almonds, beef, chocolate, lentils, sunflower seeds
• Folic acid: Black-eyed peas, bran, brewer’s yeast, kidney beans, lima beans, mung beans, rice germ, wheat germ
• Manganese: Leafy greens, nuts, whole grains
• Selenium: Beef, Brazil nuts, halibut, sardines, yellowfin tuna
• Vitamin A: Apricots, carrots, collard greens, dandelion root, kale, liver, mustard greens, parsley, spinach, sweet potatoes
• Vitamin B12: Clams, eggs, lamb, liver, oyster, salmon, sardines, trout, tuna
• Vitamin C: Acerola, collard greens, guava, kale, parsley, red chili peppers, red sweet peppers
• Vitamin E: Almonds, peaches, safflower oil, spinach, sunflower seeds, wheat germ, wheat germ oil, whole wheat flour • Zinc: Beans, beef, chickpeas, dairy, oysters, whole grains Antioxidants:
• CoQ10: Beef, broccoli, cauliflower, sardines, spinach
• Bioflavonoids: Apples, berries, black tea, citrus fruits, cocoa, green tea
• Flavonoids: Apples, berries, citrus fruit/juice, legumes, red wine, tea
• Glutathione: Apples, cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, watercress), garlic, onions, spinach, whey protein
• Silymarins: Artichokes, coriander, milk thistle, turmeric
• Thiols: Arugula, coconut milk, cruciferous greens, eggs, garlic
Other:
• Amino acids: Animal protein, avocado, chlorella, collagen, gelatin, quinoa, spirulina
• Phospholipids: Egg yolks, sunflower seeds
Ways to naturally promote detoxification from your body:
Drink plenty of water
Evaluate your relationship with alcohol
Get 7-9 hours of sleep (everybody is different!)
Reduce sugars and processed foods. I usually avoid anything with more than 5 ingredients on a box!
Sweat and move your body daily
Meditation and deep breathing
Looking for more natural alternatives for cleaning products (I'm still working on this one myself)
Spending time in nature
Dry brushing and gua sha
I hope this opened your eyes to how your body is completely capable of detoxing itself. There is no "detox diet" so to speak. Your bio-individuality and what you choose to put in your body can either support it or not!
In Health, and Love,
Amanda
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