Guide To The Foods That Help Detoxify The Body
The vital organ responsible for filtering and detoxifying an individual's blood is the liver. What individuals consume comes from their digestive system and eventually filters through their liver, which is the organ that decides what is beneficial and what is not. Certain foods assist the liver to detoxify the body properly. These detoxifying foods help the body and mind function well, helping to eliminate cancer-causing free radicals. With many of the foods listed here, they are not only easy for the liver to break down but they also help break down toxins and eliminate them from the body. Finding foods that detox the body as well as staying away from foods that turn into toxins will keep both the body and mind functioning the way it should.
Artichokes
Artichokes help the liver function at an optimum level of efficiency when eliminating the body of harmful toxins. Artichokes assist the liver in creating more bile, which helps with the efficient breakdown of food individuals consume, including artichokes themselves. The better the body can break down food consumed, the easier it is able to extract and use the nutrients the food contains. When the liver is working well, it helps the body get rid of toxins. They allow the liver to create more bile which assists in breaking food down.
In addition to helping the liver produce more bile, artichokes also contain quite a high amount of fiber, potassium, protein, and magnesium. These nutrients, particularly fiber help individuals stay regular, boost liver function, and boost their mood. Staying regular is a key part of reducing the severity of constipation.
Beets
Beets are an anti-cancer aid as they assist in detoxifying free radicals from the body. They do so because of the pectin in the beets' fiber clears toxins after being removed from the liver, allowing them to be flushed out from the body. Toxins will re-incorporate themselves in the body if they are not flushed out. Beets are high in antioxidants, containing many nutrients known for their cleansing and detoxifying capabilities.
Betaine helps liver cells eliminate toxins from the body and defends the liver as well as the bile ducts. The bile ducts are a critical component to the proper and effective function of the liver. Betalains, also contained in beets, have anti-inflammatory properties, which will encourage the liver to better detoxify the body.
Broccoli
Broccoli works with liver enzymes, allowing the liver to turn toxins into material the body can eliminate. The fiber in broccoli binds together the bile acids in the digestive tract which makes it easier for them to be eliminated from the body. Broccoli also helps lower cholesterol levels in this way as well. The three glucosinolate phytonutrients found in broccoli support every step of the body in the detoxification process. This includes the activating, neutralizing, and eliminating of toxins. Isothiocyanates are molecules that help control the detoxification process down to a genetic level. They are made from broccoli's glucosinolates.
Garlic
Garlic can not only boost the immune system, but it also improves the proper function of the liver. The factor responsible for the support of the liver is the high amount of vitamin C contained in garlic. Garlic has antioxidants that help the body fight free radicals in the bloodstream, which helps slow down the effects of aging. This boost in the detoxification process also happens to help prevent the development of heart disease and cancer.
The natural substance allin contained in garlic has many healing properties for the body. The distinct taste of garlic is good to add to other bland detoxifying foods, which can be a benefit to helping individuals eat food that is good for them but has little taste. Everyone wants their food to taste good after all. Not only is this more pleasant during a meal, but it also helps boost the likelihood individuals will actually want to eat these detoxifying foods more.
Grapefruit
Grapefruit contains a lot of fiber and nutrients that aid in the detoxifying process. When individuals consume grapefruits, they are flooding their body with something good for the detox process while also dislodging toxins. Grapefruit has been known to help with weight loss because it forces the liver and body as a whole to burn fat faster. Grapefruit, it is important to note, slows down the first phase of detoxification in the liver.
While this might sound counterproductive, this actually allows the second phase of detoxification to keep up so the liver can better balance its workload. If the second phase of detox cannot keep up with the first phase, there is a distinct possibility toxins can build up in such a way that results in hyperactivity and substantial damage to cells.
Kale
Kale is recognized with the ability to provide comprehensive support to the body's detoxification system. Kale helps the binding of bile acids in the digestive tract, which makes it quite a bit easier for them to be excreted from the body. It has many antioxidants along with anti-inflammatory properties along with various vitamins and minerals. Kale also contains a fair amount of isothiocyanates, which assist in the regulation of detoxification down to a genetic level. Kale is being used as a part of many detox programs as they help the liver get rid of impurities.
Watercress
The leaves of watercress, which have been used in soups since ancient times, are packed with nutrients. Watercress contains B vitamins, zinc, potassium, vitamins E and C, and antioxidants, all of which are vital contributions to the body's detoxification process. Like all cruciferous vegetables, watercress boosts the detoxification system and cleanses the body, helping eliminate the buildup of toxins. They contain phytochemicals, which stimulate enzymes in the body, detoxifying cancer-causing cells. Watercress is said to assist in preventing lung diseases including cancer and emphysema because it contains gluconasturtiin. This substance is released when the leaves of watercress are chopped up and help neutralize the carcinogens in tobacco.
Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass is often used in detox diets where those following the diet eat it daily to promote the removal of toxins from the body. It also increases red blood-cell count, which helps cleanse the blood and many organs. Wheatgrass reduces the amount of acidity in the blood, which is quite beneficial as too much acidity can lead to peptic ulcers, constipation, and diarrhea. As wheatgrass detoxifies the liver and blood, it also neutralizes pollutants in the body. High chlorophyll content in wheatgrass assists in oxygenating the blood, giving individuals increased amounts of energy. Wheatgrass has quite a lot of overall nutritional value when it comes to not only detoxing the body but also beyond, and this includes nine essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.
Seaweed
Seaweed and algae are aquatic plants and are quite rich in nutrients and antioxidants. They assist in fighting inflammation and damage to tissues caused by free radicals. Their protein and amino acids also help fight infections while fiber promotes the growth of good bacteria in the belly. This assists in maintaining a regular bowel and also eradicates toxins and fats from the body. Seaweed helps in detoxifying the body because it protects the liver from toxic damage. Magnesium and potassium protect blood vessels and fights off the unfortunate effects of stress. Nutrients included in seaweed that assist in the overall function of the body, making it possible to detoxify effectively include beta carotene, selenium zinc, iron, B-complex vitamins, as well as vitamins C and D.