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A quick internet search reveals pages and pages of proposed detox diets. Some of them do bring health benefits, but anything you do short-term can’t make up for long-term, daily exposure to harmful substances.
You’re better off incorporating detoxifying meals into your everyday diet. An ongoing process of making healthier choices will do more for your overall well-being than any quick fix. Start adding these 12 foods that detox your body into your eating plan today.
You might have to dust off that Asian cookbook to enjoy the full flavor of this miracle herb in your cooking. Who knew that something as delicious as chicken tikka masala could help ease aches and pains?
Turmeric is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory powerhouse — some people claim it works better than aspirin at easing discomfort. For best results, use it with black pepper. The piperine increases the bioavailability of the curcumin, the active ingredient, by 2,000%.
If you aren’t into Indian dishes, you can add a lovely chai flavor to your morning coffee by adding some of the ground root and a sprinkle of pepper to your coffee. If you enjoy herbal tea, you can find plenty of blends containing turmeric.
Ginger is another Asian root herb that reduces inflammation and detoxes your body with its antimicrobial properties. It also does a fabulous job of calming an upset stomach.
You can add ginger to many baked goods — think of the popular snaps. Also, you can add the ground root to tea or even coffee. You can even suck on the raw root, although you might find the crystallized form more palatable.
It’s fascinating how the ancients did beneficial things without knowing the perks. What happens when you take a superfood and ferment it? You get a probiotic powerhouse of a side.
The veggie alone has tons of good-for-you nutrients like magnesium and potassium. When it ferments, it produces probiotics — beneficial bacteria that keep your gut healthy.
Probiotics matter because disruptions in your intestinal microbiome can affect other areas of the body. For example, your gut sends signals to immune cells, telling them when to activate. If your belly isn’t balanced, you could get sick more often.
Yogurt is a rich natural source of probiotics, and it’s yummy. If you follow a vegan lifestyle, you can find non-dairy versions.
Broccoli, kale and cabbage are all members of the same plant family — over the years, horticulturists selected them for certain features, like woody stalks or deep, leafy greens. They all originate from a wild mustard species and have similar nutritional profiles.
You can add these antioxidant-rich greens to sandwiches and wraps for crunch. You can also make various salads combining the ingredients.
If you want to increase your life expectancy, one food that will detox your body is green tea. Recent research indicates that at age 50, tea drinkers average an extra full year of life compared to their abstaining counterparts. Try swapping one of your morning cups of joe for this brew sweetened with honey, which also has antimicrobial properties.
Did you ever wonder why asparagus makes your pee smell? It turns out that this veggie contains a substance called asparagusic acid that breaks down into sulfur compounds in your body. These produce various beneficial health effects, including detoxing your cells.
If you have heart trouble, it helps to detox your body by eating more beets. These root vegetables contain folate and betaine, two substances that work together to lower blood levels of homocysteine, a protein that causes artery-damaging inflammation. You can use these veggies to make a vegan alternative to Hungarian goulash.
Please, go ahead and order that toast — don’t let anyone tell you it is too expensive. Avocados are detoxing powerhouses for your body because of their high levels of vitamin E. This nutrient helps to keep your cells pliable and can produce a glowing complexion and hair.
Some of the most potent detox agents known are anthocyanins, a phytonutrient that gives berries their dark red and blue colors. These substances benefit health in various ways. They may reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer.
If frequent muscle spasms or fibromyalgia leave you with widespread pain, try adding more pineapple to your diet. It contains a substance called bromelain, which you might recognize from various meat tenderizers. It turns out that it has a mild relaxing effect on human tissue, helping ease pain from cramps and knots.
Even if you suffer from gluten intolerance, you can use these two ancient grains to detox your body. These foods don’t contain the troublesome protein but are high in prebiotic fiber, which nourishes healthy intestinal bacteria. Plus, they make you feel fuller longer, helping you stick to your diet if you need to shed excess pounds.
You’ll find no shortage of detox diets online, but eating healthier should be an ongoing process if you want lasting results. Start adding more of these 12 foods that detox your body to your diet today.
