Don’t get suckered in to some faddy New Year detox. They are a waste of time, money and you usually end up starving and lacking in nutrients. Your body is designed to detox itself, so you just have to be sensible and eat well, drink enough of water and get plenty of exercise.
Detoxing your body means to get rid of toxins and can be done by changing your lifestyle habits, such as your diet and exercise routine. Typically, detoxing is done by only temporarily eating certain things that cleanse the body and organs, but there a few things that can actually detox your body naturally.
If you need a little extra help, here are seven of the best naturally detoxing agents that won’t send you starving or broke:
#1 | Water
Don’t roll your eyes at us – water is vital for all of your organs and for flushing toxins out of your body! If you’re exercising and taking saunas to help release the toxins that build up in your body, it becomes even more important to stay hydrated throughout the day.
It’s recommended that you drink 2 litres of water to prevent your body from becoming dehydrated every day. So, instead of grabbing a calorie-rich, sugar-heavy coffee on the way to work, opt for a bottle of water instead. It’ll do you the world of good!
#2 | Exercise
Besides the benefits to weight loss, muscle and bone mass and cardiovascular fitness, exercise detoxes the body by increasing oxygen and blood circulation, releasing toxins in fatty tissue and of course by sweating out toxins.
Getting some exercise also has many other health benefits, such as reducing your risk of high blood pressure, diabetes and even some forms of cancer.
#3 | Avocado
Always known as a super-food, avocados help the body produce glutathione, a compound that is necessary for the liver to cleanse harmful toxins.
This poor fruit has received a bad rep about being high in fat, but those who understand the difference between good and bad fats will appreciate it for it’s great qualities. Just remember that store-bought guacamole isn’t going to count; it needs to be fresh!
#4 | Fruit and Vegetables
Fruits wash out toxins from the body, are high in antioxidants, nutrients and important vitamins and are rich in fibre that helps remove additives from your system. Grapefruit deserves a special mention as it’s so high in vitamin C and antioxidants, increases the natural cleansing processes of the liver and helps boost production of the enzymes that help flush out toxins.
Vegetables such as beetroot will make sure that the toxins you’re getting rid of actually make it out of your body. It’s another super-food that can help stimulate and improve overall liver function.
Leafy green vegetables are also a great detoxifier and can be eaten raw, cooked, or juiced. They remove waste from the organs and the blood stream and are great defense system for the liver.
#5 | Garlic
Garlic boosts up the immune system as well as helping out the liver by activating enzymes that help your body flush to out toxins. It also contains high amounts of allicin and selenium; two natural compounds that aid in liver cleansing.
Along with detoxifying your body, garlic also contains antioxidants which help fight the free radicals in your bloodstream. These are the cells that are responsible for the signs of aging, so eating it could help to make you look younger, too!
#6 | Ginger
Ginger is another great option to consider if you’re wanting to naturally detox your body as it cleanses by stimulating circulation, sweating and digestion – the latter of which help to cleanse the liver and colon when they are full of toxins.
A very traditional way of preventing liver damage, add it to meals or drink it with tea or hot water if you’ve overindulged on the booze or fatty foods.
#7 | Green tea
Full of plant antioxidants that assist liver function and kill free radicals before they can do any damage, green tea helps to flush toxins from your body in a similar way that adding lemon or lime juice to hot water does.
A great substitute for sugary drinks if you are trying to cut down, green tea is jam-packed with antioxidants and nutrients to help with bodily functions such as brain function, fat loss and even protecting your mind from issues such as dementia.
Header image: Dishing Up The Dirt
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