Flush out toxins from your body with the help of these vegetables

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People often go on a cleanse or a detox diet to flush toxins from their body or to promote weight loss. When you’re on a detox, you need to eliminate toxins and eat healthier. To do this, you can add more fiber-rich and nutritious vegetables to your diet.

If you’re not sure where to start on your detox diet, start by eating more salads with fresh and organic greens such as:

• Arugula
• Baby kale
• Spinach
• Watercress
• Beet greens

Top your salad with chia seeds, hemp, shaved fennel, and spring radishes. But don’t use unhealthy bottled dressing. Instead, gently toss the salad with a couple of tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil and lemon juice.

Alternatively, you can add a sprinkle of apple cider vinegar (ACV) as a dressing. ACV is another powerful detoxifier. If you want more crunch in your salad, add some nuts and seeds.

A healthy salad is a good source of vegetables, fiber, and healthy monounsaturated fat (from the olive oil or avocado). Eating more salads will also help you feel fuller longer.

Consume the following vegetables to eliminate toxins from your body.

Artichokes

Artichokes, which can naturally increase bile production, are full of antioxidants and vitamins C and K. These vegetables can provide at least 10 grams of fiber in just one choke (the fine, fuzzy filaments of the vegetable).

Artichokes can also promote weight loss. It takes a while to eat them, and there’s a lot of fiber in the leaves. The vegetables are also low in calories and fat.

To detox with artichokes, steam whole artichokes until they’re just tender. Combine butter, extra virgin olive oil, and lemon juice, then dip the base of the artichokes leaves in the mixture.

Beets

Beets are a popular blood cleanser, and they produce nitric acid that can help boost blood flow throughout your body. Beets or beet juice contains carotenes, phenolic acids, and vitamin E.

Beets also have betalains, a type of antioxidant that can help repair and regenerate the cells in your liver.

To make a cleansing salad, combine baby greens, beets, feta cheese, and grapefruit. You can also make a detoxifying beet juice by combining apples, beets, celery, lemon juice, and some sprigs of cilantro.

Fennel

Research has revealed that “crunchy, anise-flavored” fennel can be used like celery in recipes. Fennel possesses antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, and it can help relieve gas and decrease bloating.

Fennel is full of amino acids, fatty acids, fiber, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and vitamin C. This vegetable is low in calories, making it the perfect detox food.

Use fennel to make a detoxifying juice by combining the vegetable with apples and carrots.

Seaweed

Seaweed is one of the most nutrient-dense vegetables, and it is full of antioxidants and phytochemicals such as polyphenols and fucoxanthin. Seaweeds like dulse, kombu, nori, and wakame are used as food sources in sea-dwelling communities.

Seaweeds are often used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat different health problems such as tumors and urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Seaweed is full of nutrients that can help detox your blood and kidneys. They also possess diuretic properties that can help you shed excess water while also strengthening your immune system.

Turmeric

In Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine, turmeric is used to treat different diseases such as liver and digestive disorders. The spice helps detoxify the liver by increasing bile production in the gallbladder, and your liver then uses the bile to eliminate toxins and digest fats.

Turmeric has an active ingredient called curcumin, which is a polyphenol. Curcumin is a powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial. Studies suggest that curcumin can help address different conditions such as Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancers, heavy metal poisoning, irritable bowel disease, and liver diseases.

Get your daily dose of turmeric by adding half a teaspoon to a smoothie.

Alternatively, you can toss cauliflower in olive oil with a bit of turmeric before roasting. Serve the sauteed cauliflower with Greek yogurt. (Related: Toxins all around? Get rid of them with proper detox.)

Fruits for a detox diet

Aside from the vegetables included in the list above, you can also eat fruits while detoxifying. Try to eat at least five to 10 servings of colorful fruits and vegetables every day when you’re going on a detox.

These fruits contain phytonutrients with antioxidant properties that can help boost your overall health:

• Apples
• Blueberries
• Cantaloupe
• Figs
• Grapes
• Kiwi
• Lemon
• Mango
• Nectarines
• Oranges
• Papaya
• Raspberries
• Strawberries
• Tangerines
• Watermelon

Incorporating these fresh vegetables and fruits into your diet can help eliminate toxins and boost your energy levels.

Sources include:

RD.com

VeryWellFit.com