Been overdoing it lately? Too much booze, naughty foods while
burning the candle at both ends? If you've been punishing your
body, then first of all hope you had fun, but more importantly,
your body is now probably in desperate need of a period of
detoxification.
Oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit; it doesn't matter which
one of these gives your taste buds the greatest tickle, they're all
part of the citrus family, which means a plethora of detoxifying
qualities. Lemons, a favourite among celebs for their
body-cleansing properties, are thought to restore the balance of
healthy bacteria in your gut as well as flushing toxins from your
system, so try substituting your morning cup of tea or coffee for a
simple slice of lemon in hot water. Oranges and grapefruits,
meanwhile, are rich in the antioxidants known as flavonoids, which
expel damaging free-radicals from your system and protect against
cell damage and disease
What could be simpler - or cheaper - than flushing your body of
toxins with eight daily glasses of pure, crisp water? As well as
improving cognitive function and boosting our energy levels,
drinking plenty of water provides your body's cells with enough H20
to keep them functioning properly. Just one thing - if you're doing
a lot of exercising and therefore losing a lot of fluids through
perspiring, then you may need to drink more than the recommended
amount. Just don't drink too much, as excessive amounts can lead to
brain injury.
There are over 7,000 different varieties of apple in the world
(meaning you could eat a different one every day for over 19
years), and they're all overflowing with vitamins, minerals and
nutrients, which aid the detoxifying process. Apples are full of
dietary fibre, which cleanses the colon, the antioxidants,
flavonoids and terpenoids they contain also prevent cell damage and
stimulate the production of bile in the liver, which again helps to
rid the body of pesky, toxic invaders.
Eat your greens! Why? Because veggies like broccoli, kale,
sprouts, spinach and watercress are full of dietary fibre to boost
your digestive system but also essential vitamins A and C (which
the body can't produce on its own), iron, beta-carotene and
calcium. The nutrients in green vegetables break down into
sulphorophanes, which have a stimulating effect on the detox
process. Nutritionists recommend eating them raw when you can (aim
for one raw meal a day) as this prevents the loss of vital
nutrients through boiling or other forms of cooking.
The dark hue says it all - blueberries are bursting with
antioxidants, anthocyanidins and the nutritional equivalent of a
superhero, ellagic acid, which all combine to prevent cell damage
and remove unwanted particles from the body. But they're not the
only berry central to your successful detox. Be sure to make the
most of blackberries, strawberries and raspberries, while the
slightly more exotic goji berries are packed to the gunnels with
vitamins, beta-carotene and iron. Sprinkle berries on your cereal
or porridge for the perfect detox breakfast.
What better way to encourage toxins to make a sharp exit from
your system than eating spicy food? But even if the curries and
oriental dishes don't bring you out in a sweat, the spices used to
make them are powerful detoxifying agents. Take turmeric, for
example; known as the Indian saffron, turmeric contains curcumin, a
nutrient which stimulates detoxification of the liver, the organ
which deals with the substances we produce in our system on a daily
basis as well as the toxins that we ingest through our naughty
habits or purely because of the environment around us.
Like drinking water - but better! Swapping caffeine for a herbal
tea should be top of your detox 'to-do' list, so make sure you pick
one with several purifying properties. Fennel, for example, is
loaded with vitamin C, potassium and manganese, which are believed
to aid digestion. It's also thought to reduce swelling and fluid
retention. If you normally imbibe a lot of coffee, then cardamom is
thought to be adept at detoxifying caffeine, and has also been
linked to improving digestion and stomach problems (it is a mild
laxative). More tea, vicar?
Grazing on nuts makes many of us think of Christmas and festive
season weight gain, but in reality, nuts and seeds make the perfect
snack for those of us in pursuit of a proper detox. Brazil nuts,
for example, are packed with selenium, which increases the number
of white blood cells in the body, which protects us from infection.
Cashew nuts (plain, rather than roasted or salted) are a good
source of monounsaturated fat and copper, which protect the heart
and blood vessels. Sunflower seeds, meanwhile, are full of vitamin
E, which strengthens the hair and skin. Keep a small pouch in your
handbag to satisfy your hunger pangs and help along your detox.
Why is brown rice so much better for you than white? Consider
these facts: the process of milling and polishing brown rice into
white destroys 67% of the vitamin B3, 90% of vitamin B6, half of
the manganese and all of the dietary fibre and fatty acids, all of
which are thought to aid the detoxification process. Brown rice, on
the other hand, has only lost its outer layer, so the majority of
this nutritional bounty is left untouched.
'Stinking rose' it may be, but don't dare to knock its
detoxifying qualities. Garlic has been prized for its medicinal
qualities (eat a raw clove when you feel a cold coming on and
you'll clear right up), and it is rich in antioxidants that reduce
the risk of cardiovascular disease and other conditions. It's also
thought to be a potent antibacterial, mainly due to a compound
called allicin, which hunts down and clears harmful bacteria from
your system, leaving you feeling in tip-top shape.
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