By Grace O
When I was growing up, my aunt taught me the value of cleansing my body of toxic substances to prevent illness and help in the healing process. So, for me, detoxing is second nature. I do understand, however, that some people are skeptical of the concept of detoxifying. The sheer number of products on the market claiming to miraculously detox your body doesn’t inspire confidence. I can help you detox without those packaged teas or harsh drinks.
You see, your body detoxifies itself daily. Your liver is working constantly to clean your system. It uses compounds from the foods you eat to turn toxins into less harmful substances that can then be safely excreted. Because of poor diets and environmental pollutants, most of us can benefit from a little help with this detoxification process. Once every few months, or whenever I’m not feeling well, I go on a detoxification regimen. I like to cleanse my whole system through herb-spiked liquids and healing foods.
Occasionally, I go on a master cleanse – a multi-day regimen of drinking nothing but water spiked with lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper. It cleans out my colon and helps me lose weight. The lemon juice contains vitamin C – one of many anti-aging properties I call FoodTrients – which transforms toxins into water-soluble agents that can be easily flushed out.
Vitamin C, found in all citrus fruits, also gives the liver a boost and jump-starts the digestive tract. Maple syrup helps keep my blood sugar from completely crashing. And cayenne pepper helps cleanse the bowel, kill bacteria and encourage sweating. I don’t recommend it to everyone. It’s rather harsh and headaches can result from allowing your blood sugar to get so low.
Another naturally cleansing spice is turmeric, a member of the ginger family. Turmeric is a source of the FoodTrient curcumin, which helps prevent disease through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. You can make turmeric juice from turmeric root, and then mix it with orange juice for extra Vitamin C – and detoxifying – benefits. My easy Fresh Turmeric Juice recipe shows you how.
Certain foods can also help your body rid itself of unwanted chemicals. I’ve already mentioned the power of citrus fruits. Garlic, like citrus, helps the liver produce detoxifying enzymes. Okra is known for its ability to flush out the intestines.
Chia seeds and flaxseeds have a similar bowel-cleansing effect because they are loaded with natural fiber and omega-3 fatty acids – two other FoodTrients – that absorb toxins in the intestinal tract and help eliminate them from the body. I like to soak chia seeds in water for 20 minutes and then add them to juice or iced tea to make Chia Frescas. Drinking a chia-laced beverage three times a day can really help stabilize blood sugar and bring down cholesterol levels.
Bitter melon has a similar effect on blood sugar and cholesterol. Chinese herbalists have been prescribing it for centuries. I soak bitter melon in salted water to make it more palatable. Then I toss it with vinegar for a cleansing Bitter Melon Salad.
Fresh watercress, cilantro and parsley are good for detoxifying the kidneys and liver because they contain the FoodTrient chlorophyll, which also helps protect against certain cancers. Cilantro can even pull metals like mercury, lead and aluminum out of the body. Almost every salad can benefit from a handful of fresh raw watercress, cilantro and/or parsley. My Detox Juice recipe takes advantage of the power of watercress and/or spirulina powder blended with healthy beets and vitamin-C-rich oranges. Wheatgrass juice is full of detoxifying chlorophyll also. The next time you stop by a juice bar, be sure to add a shot of wheatgrass juice to your order.
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup watercress (or 2 Tbsp. spirulina powder)
4 beets (peel on) stem and root removed, cut in pieces
4 oranges (peel on) cut in pieces
2 Tbs. fiber powder
8 oz. water
PROCEDURE
Place watercress, beets, and oranges in a juicer.
Stir the fiber powder into the water until it dissolves completely.
Mix the fiber water into the juice
SOURCE: Age Gracefully Cookbook by Grace O
Artichokes and hops (found in beer) are good detox agents as well. Artichokes increase bile production, helping both the gall bladder and the liver do their jobs. Hops act as a diuretic, pulling water-soluble toxins out of the body. A grilled artichoke with a glass of beer makes a nice hearty detoxifying snack.
Pure water may be the ultimate detoxifying flush for kidneys, liver, lung and bowels. Green tea is also excellent. The catechins in green tea are great for helping the liver work and for purifying the blood. Whether you make your green tea hot or cold, use clean, fresh water. Liquids definitely help pull poisons out of the body, so be sure to drink plenty of them.
Going into the new year, incorporate these simple ways to naturally cleanse your body. Be sure to eat whole foods that are free of pesticides and preservatives – they help promote a healthier you all year long!
– Grace O is the creator of FoodTrients, a unique program for optimizing wellness and longevity. She is the author of three award-winning cookbooks. Her latest cookbook is “Anti-Aging Dishes from Around the World.” Recipes mentioned in this column can be found at FoodTrients.com.
