5 Everyday Foods to Eat For a Detox

A detox can be a great way to eliminate toxins and waste products from your system and increase your overall health. However, they can be expensive and are often too difficult for people to stick to long enough to see change.

The most frugal and effective way to detox is through eating a whole-foods based diet—which focuses on vitamin and mineral rich fruits and vegetables. Often people turn to supplements to support a detox, but they often contain fillers and other agents that block the pathways of the liver, kidneys, digestive system, and circulatory system. Focus on eating more naturally purifying foods that can keep your body clean of excess toxins and waste products.

1. Turmeric. Both Chinese and Indian medicine rely on the spice turmeric for its powerful anti-inflammatory properties. In addition to it’s high levels of antioxidants, turmeric has been shown to increase the liver’s detoxification enzymes. Easy ways to incorporate turmeric are to sprinkle it onto cooked eggs, over roasted vegetables, or into salad dressings.

2. Beets. Perhaps one of the most perfect detox foods, beets are high in numerous important substances, like betaine and pectin. Beets are famous for assisting the liver in cleaning out waste and improving overall health of individuals who eat them. Beets can be enjoyed grated raw, juiced, or baked to encourage the liver cells to remove toxins. The green, leafy beet tops can also be sautéed with garlic as a simple side dish for any meal.

3. Watercress. Recent chemical analysis of watercress reveals that the beneficial effects are due to its generous content of vitamins A and vitamin C, and the minerals calcium and iron. Further, all leafy greens, such as spinach, watercress, kale, and dandelion, are also full of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll rids the body of harmful environmental toxins from smog, heavy metals, herbicides, cleaning products and pesticides. Even adding fresh chopped parsley can aid in detoxification because it helps flush the kidneys.

4. Garlic. Known as a beneficial food worldwide, garlic cleanses the blood, is a natural antiviral and antibiotic, and can lower blood pressure. Garlic stimulates the liver and when sliced and cooked produces a detoxifying enzyme called allicin. Consuming garlic has been shown to increase the number of toxin-fighting white blood cells in your body.

5. Avocados. Recent studies show, that when eaten regularly, avocados can improve liver health and keep the liver flushing out toxins. Rich in heart health omega 3 fatty acids—which also aid the liver, avocados also help the body produce glutathione. Glutathione, which is also found in asparagus and spinach, is a super antioxidant and natural detoxifier that is often depleted in bodies under severe stress, by nutrient poor diets, pollution and medications.