After a long winter we are all ready for more sunshine and warmer days. I don’t know about you, but it also makes me want to declutter – my home, my closet, my life, my body! It just feels good to start fresh. There are many different ways to detoxify or cleanse the body but it doesn’t always have to be with a formal program or product. Detoxing is simply the body’s natural, ongoing process of neutralizing or eliminating toxins. Toxins are anything that can potentially harm body tissue, including waste products that result from normal cell activity, such as ammonia, lactic acid and homocysteine, and human-made toxins that we are exposed to in our environment, personal products, food, and water. Your body is actually detoxifying all day long but there are certain foods that can help or hinder the process.

Support your detox with these foods:

Green Foods

Kale, spinach, spirulina, alfalfa, chard, arugula, or other organic leafy greens all have chlorophyll which helps rid the body of harmful environmental toxins from toxic metals, herbicides, cleaning products and pesticides. They also aid the liver in detoxification.

Beetroot

Beetroot is truly one of the most powerful foods to help you detoxify the body. Beets are loaded antioxidants and natural folate. Betaine, another substance found in beets, stimulates liver cells and protects liver and bile ducts. The fiber in beets binds to and helps eliminate heavy metals and toxins from the body. Raw is best for detoxification so shred them on top of salads.

Garlic

Packed full of sulphur and antibiotic properties, garlic helps internally heal your body.

Lemons and Limes

These are great sources of vitamin C, which helps make glutathione, a substance needed for detoxifying the liver. They also contain limonene which enhances phase two detoxification of the liver and get rid of chemicals inside of the body.

Broccoli Sprouts

Extremely high in phytonutrients and antioxidants. The ability for broccoli sprouts to stimulate the detoxification enzymes in the digestive tract is unparalleled. The sprouts are actually more effective than the fully-grown vegetable.

Green Tea

Packed full of antioxidants, green tea washes toxins and improves liver function with its special antioxidant called catechins.

Omega-3 Oils

Using hemp, avocado, olive, or flax seed oil while detoxing helps lubricate the intestinal walls, allowing the toxins to be absorbed by the oil, and eliminated by the body.

Drink lots of fresh, filtered water to support the removal of toxins from the body while you are detoxing. Other important items are plenty of sleep, light exercise and sunshine!

Avoid these foods when you detox:

  • Processed foods – these are the highest sources of toxins
  • Carbonated and fizzy drinks
  • Alcohol
  • Sugar
  • Dairy and egg products
  • Grains including corn, wheat, rye, oats, and barley
  • Soy
  • Sweeteners
  • Condiments like ketchup and other ready made sauces and salad dressings

 
My favorit kale detox salad

My Favorite Kale Detox Salad

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Course Dinner, Lunch
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

For the Vinaigrette

  • 2 lemons juiced (about 1/2 cup)
  • 2 tsp. olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • sea salt & black pepper to taste

For the Salad

  • 2 bunches Kale (about 6-8 cups), destemmed and finely chopped
  • 1 cup shredded beets
  • 1/2 cup almond meal
  • 1/2 avocado diced

Instructions
 

  • To make dressing: place lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper in a bowl; whisk together until combined and set aside.
  • In a large bowl massage the kale thoroughly with the dressing to combine. Toss in beets. Place in refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour to let flavors soak in. Before serving, toss salad again with almond meal and avocado. Enjoy!
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