Written by:
Tina Sumerta, Year 12
Practiced for centuries by people all over the
globe – whether it be Britney Spears, or Sansa Stark- detoxification is all
about cleansing the body from the inside out. Spring has arrived and Easter has
just passed; it is the perfect time to detoxify your body. These 10 superfoods
will surely assist you in boosting your metabolism and in optimizing digestion,
while allowing you to maintain a healthy weight and strong immune system.
1.
Beetroot
Beets are full of vitamins B3, B6, C and beta-carotene. They are also a
rich source of iron, magnesium, zinc and calcium, which are all necessary in
promoting optimal detoxification. Beetroots are known for aiding the digestion
of food, particularly fatty foods. Beetroot is best consumed as juice, which
can be easily acquired by using a juicer. Some might find it difficult to
stomach pure beet juice, so it is advisable to mix it with apple or carrot
juice, for some natural sweetening.
2.
Lemons
Lemons stimulate the release of enzymes and helps convert toxins into a
water-soluble form that can be easily excreted from the body. Furthermore, just
one lemon has more than 100 percent of your daily intake of vitamin C, which is
a vitamin necessary for the synthesis of glutathione. Glutathione helps ensure
that the liver detoxifies your body at a good pace. Lemon is best consumed as
either lemon juice, or lemon water first thing in the morning, which will help
balance out the acidity of foods. (Yes, Lemons are indeed alkali, despite its
sour taste)
3.
Garlic
Contrary to popular belief, Garlic is not only useful in warding off
unwanted sparkly vampires but also helpful in boosting the immune system and
liver. Sulfur is the key ingredient in garlic, making it a good detox food due
to its antibiotic properties. Ridding yourself of these pathogenic microbes
will reduce the toxins in your body. Garlic can be used as a seasoning for your
food –a good garlic pesto for example- which will reduce the need to use salt,
another food baddie. Try not to cook the garlic as much as possible, as this
can destroy its antibiotic properties. If you cannot stomach raw garlic,
another alternative will be to consume garlic in a capsule, which can be found
in your local health shop.
4.
Olive oil
Hippocrates, the father of medicine, was one of the first people to
recognize the health benefits of olive oil. He often referred to it as “the
great therapeutic”. Olive oil is often used to flush out the liver by
overwhelming the the gall bladder, signalling it to flush out toxins, such as
bile. Use olive oil to dress salads, and as an alternative for fats when
cooking at home.
5.
Seaweed
Seaweeds are not only delicious crispy fried snacks, but also
ingredients of Asian dishes – the iconic Japanese miso soup for example.
Seaweeds are full of powerful antioxidants that help alkalize the blood and
strengthen the digestive tract. Seaweeds offer the broadest range of minerals,
virtually containing all the minerals in the ocean – the same minerals found in
the human blood.
6.
Ginger
Ginger is a widely known as a natural anti-inflammatory, and is often
hailed as a cleansing god in many popular cleansing programs. High in gingerols
and shogaols, ginger cleanses the body by stimulating digestion, circulation
and sweating. It serves to flush out toxins in the colon and liver, amongst
other organs. Ginger can be grated and added to fruit juice, or added to
hot water for a nice ginger tea. For an extra detox kick, add chamomile and
peppermint tea leaves.
All of these products can of course, be found in your local wet market, grocery shop or health store. Happy body spring-cleaning!
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