10 Foods for Detoxing

The good news is your liver and kidneys do a great job at cleansing without juices, fasts, or strange concoctions.

Here are a handful of foods with impressive detoxifying properties. Many foods that are rich in vitamins and antioxidants can assist your body’s natural ability to cleanse and detoxify itself. Not only can these foods help your body remove toxins, but they also are powerhouses for nutrients.

Lemon

Lemons are packed with antioxidant vitamin C, which is great for the skin and for fighting disease-forming free radicals. The citrus fruit has an alkaline effect on the body, meaning that it can help restore the body’s pH balance, benefitting the immune system. Try starting your day with hot water and a slice of lemon to help flush out toxins and cleanse your system. Do not brush your teeth for a half an hour after consuming the lemon water – the brush might actually etch the teeth.

Ginger

If too much fatty food or alcohol has caused problems for your digestive system, you can add some ginger to your diet. Ginger is not only great for reducing feelings of nausea, but it can help improve digestion, beat bloating and reduce gas. Ginger is high in antioxidants and is good for boosting the immune system. Try sipping on ginger tea or adding some freshly grated ginger to a fruit or vegetable juice.

Garlic

Garlic has long been known for its heart benefits, however, pungent food is also good at detoxifying the body. Garlic is not only antiviral, antibacterial and antibiotic, but it contains a chemical called allicin which promotes the production of white blood cells and helps fight against toxins. Garlic is best eaten raw, so add some crushed garlic to a salad dressing to boost its flavor.

Artichoke

Globe artichokes are packed with antioxidants and fiber and can also help the body digest fatty foods. It is also known for its ability to stimulate and improve the functions of the liver. Ranked as the number one overall vegetable for antioxidants, artichokes help combat oxidative stress related to chronic diseases and aging. Two phytonutrients found in artichokes help the liver produce bile, which is important in the digestion of fats.

Beetroot

Beets are packed with magnesium, iron, and vitamin C. This superfood is great for skin, hair and cholesterol levels. Beets are a high-antioxidant vegetable that are also rich in nutrients. Beets contain betaine, which helps the liver rid itself of toxins, as well as a fiber called pectin that clears toxins that have been removed from the liver.

Green tea

While it’s not technically a food, no detox plan would be complete without regular consumption of essential liquids. Fluids are essential for keeping our organs healthy and helping to flush toxins from the body. Green tea is extremely high in antioxidants. Research has also suggested that drinking green tea can protect the liver from diseases including fatty liver disease.

Cabbage

Cabbage is an excellent detoxifying food. Like most cruciferous vegetables (including broccoli and sprouts), cabbage contains a chemical called sulforaphane, which helps the body fight against toxins. Cabbage also supplies the body with glutathione; an antioxidant that helps improve the detoxifying function of the liver.

Brown rice

If you want to cleanse your system and boost your health, it is a good idea to cut down on processed foods. Instead, try supplementing your diet with healthier whole grains such as brown rice, which is rich in many key detoxifying nutrients including B vitamins, magnesium, manganese and phosphorous. Brown rice is also high in fiber, which is good for cleansing the colon and rich in selenium, which can help to protect the liver as well as improving the complexion.

Asparagus

Asparagus contains glutathione, a well-known antioxidant that promotes detoxification. It is also a good source of fiber, folate, iron, and vitamins A, C, E, and K, as well as being beneficial to those with high blood pressure. Asparagus is also known to help the kidney and bladder cleanse itself. According to a study in the Journal of Food Science, the amino acids and minerals found in asparagus may alleviate hangover symptoms and protect liver cells against toxins. Asparagus is also a natural diuretic, which will help flush the excess toxins from your system.

Broccoli

Broccoli contains sulforaphane, which is great for fighting off infectious cells in our bodies. Eating broccoli also helps your body fight off cancer-inducing chemicals, and boosts the liver’s ability to clear bad chemicals from our bodies.

Grapefruit

Grapefruit is loaded with nutrients including vitamins A, C, and B1, as well as pantothenic acid, fiber, potassium, and biotin. Enzymes found in grapefruit may also break down the fat in your body to help promote weight loss. Please note that grapefruit may interact with some medications, so you should speak with your primary care provider before increasing your grapefruit intake.

Avocado

Avocados are loaded with antioxidants that help your body expel harmful toxins. Avocados contain around 20 different vitamins and minerals that help decrease the risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Collard greens

Collard greens are rich in sulfur-containing compounds that support your body’s detoxification process. Not only are they high in vitamins K and A, but collard greens may also lower your risk of breast, colon, and lung cancers due to indole-3-carbinol. A staple vegetable of Southern cuisine, collard greens have an incredible ability to cleanse your system of excess cholesterol, especially when steamed. A recent study published in the journal Nutrition Research compared the bile acid binding capacity of steamed collard greens to Cholestyramine, a cholesterol-lowering drug. Incredibly, the collards improved the body’s cholesterol-blocking process by 13 percent more than the drug.

Spinach

Spinach contains a powerful appetite suppressing compounds called thylakoids, according to an Appetite study. Spinach is low in calories and packed with nutrients. Spinach contains vitamins A, C, E, and K, as well as thiamin, folate, calcium, iron, and magnesium. Flavonoids in spinach help keep cholesterol from oxidizing in your body by acting as antioxidants.

How to Buy

You should be able to find all the food on this list at your local co-op.

Please buy local and organic when possible.

How to Store

Lemons – will last a month in the refridgerator.

Ginger – in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator. If part of the ginger has been cut or peeled, be sure to blot it dry with a paper towel before storing.

Garlic – at room temperature in a dry, dark place that has plenty of air circulation, like in a wire-mesh basket or open paper bag in a cupboard or pantry.

Artichokes – sprinkle with a few drops of water and store in and open silicone bag in the coldest part of the refrigerator for up to 1 week. If cooking them on the day you buy them, leave them at cool room temperature. Once opened, marinated artichoke hearts will keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

Beetroot – in a cool, dark place for up to three days, or in the crisper section of the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

Green tea – keep sealed in a clean, odor-free, airtight container, and should be opened as little as possible to minimize its exposure to the elements. The container should be as small as possible to keep the amount of air in contact with the leaves to a minimum.

Cabbage – best stored whole and unrinsed until you’re ready to use it. Cutting into it will cause it to lose vitamin C, which will lead to faster spoilage. To store a head of cabbage, place it in a silicone bag in the crisper drawer of your fridge. A head of cabbage will last up two months when stored this way.

Brown rice – store in your pantry for 3 to 6 months before you need to be concerned about rancidity. To get the most from it you should store brown rice in a dry area in an airtight container. Your storage area should be out of bright light and kept at room temperature or cooler.

Asparagus – store them as you would store cut flowers: Trim the bottoms and stand the spears up in a glass or jar with about an inch of water. Refrigerate them for up to 4 days.

Broccoli – mist the unwashed heads, wrap loosely in damp paper towels, and refrigerate. Use within 2 to 3 days. Do not store broccoli in a sealed container or plastic bag.

Grapefruit – if you won’t use within about 5-7 days, it’s best to keep them in the refrigerator. Once you cut or peel grapefruit, it should be stored in the refrigerator in a glass container.

Avocado – refrigerate an avocado that is ripe or close to it. If you refrigerate an unripe avocado, it will ripen eventually, but the texture and taste may be compromised. If your avocado is ripe, place the whole, uncut avocado in an airtight container or in the produce drawer in the refrigerator.

Collard Greens – store unwashed greens in moist paper towels and place in sealed silicone bags in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator. They will keep about three to four days.

Spinach – wash, and dry it, pulling out any bad leaves. Place it in a glass container or resealable silicone bag. Then dampen doubled paper towels, wring them out, and lay over spinach. Seal the container and refrigerate spinach up to two weeks.

How to Cook

These foods are all best fresh.

Sauté a couple together with a splash of avocado or olive oil. Add Miso Paste and plant butter, or tamari sauce.

kris ulland

Your Nutrition Partner

10 Foods for Detoxing

How to Buy

How to Store

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