Foods with the strongest power of detox

Detox is one of the very popular treatments in alternative medicine. Most diseases occur due to the accumulation of toxic substances (toxins). Eliminating existing toxins and preventing the accumulation of new ones is an essential part of detoxification.

Detoxification is beneficial for anyone suffering from chronic diseases and conditions, including allergies, anxiety, arthritis, asthma, chronic infections, depression, diabetes, headaches, high cholesterol, low blood sugar, indigestion, mental illness and obesity. Detoxification can be used as a useful preventative measure and as a tool to enhance overall health, vitality, resilience and well-being. Our diet is the first line of defence in the fight against toxins. By controlling food, we can significantly reduce the number of toxins that enter our body.

Foods with the strongest power of detox

The types of food described contain the most versatile nutrients that effectively remove toxins from our body.

Avocado

It contains glutathione, an antioxidant that fights free radicals in the body. It binds to fat-soluble toxins, especially alcohol, and turns them into water-soluble ones. The level of glutathione in the body decreases with age (therefore, the consequences of drinking become more severe with age). Research done at the American University of Michigan shows that older people with higher levels of glutathione in their body are much healthier. Also, they have less chance of arthritis, which many experts say is further exacerbated by toxins in the body.

Garlic

It contains allicin, which is formed when the garlic clove is rubbed and turns into a sulfur mixture when it enters the body. This sulfur substance combines toxins such as mercury, toxic food additives, and chemical versions of the hormone estrogen, which the body can then pass. Sulfur also helps maintain the alkalinity of the body, which helps control the craving for food caused by nicotine addiction.

Cranberries

They act as an antibiotic and are especially effective in cleansing the kidneys and urinary tract. They cure infections, help fight cancer, lower cholesterol and thus prevent heart disease, promote weight loss, as they contain a large number of antioxidants and thus speed up our metabolism.

Apples

They contain vitamin C and quercetin, which are antioxidants that lower blood fat and cholesterol levels. Pectin is a fibre that is also found in citrus fruits, beets and strawberries. It binds heavy metals (lead and mercury) in the large intestine and promotes their excretion. Besides, it helps eliminate toxins from the body that we get with an unhealthy diet, including tartrazine, which has been linked to hyperactivity, migraines and asthma in children.

Seaweed

Research at the McGill University in Montreal, Canada, has shown that seaweed binds radioactive waste in the body. This waste can get into our body through food grown in an area where soil or water is contaminated. It contains high doses of minerals such as iron, iodine, calcium and magnesium. Besides, it also contains useful alginates. The alginates from seaweed in our body bind heavy metals to themselves and thus enable their removal from the body.

Asparagus

They are rich in vitamin C, high in fibre and the antioxidant rutin, and are a rich source of glutathione. Research at the Vegetable Research Unit at Cornell University in the U.S. has shown that they promote kidney and intestinal function, thereby accelerating the excretion of toxins from the body. In addition to helping to detoxify the body, they are excellent anti-ageing food and protect our cells from various diseases (cancer, heart disease …).

Grapefruit

They are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, two powerful liver “cleansers”. They also contain a lot of folic acids, bioflavonoids, fibre and other ingredients that protect us from cancer and heart disease. One grapefruit satisfies the daily need for vitamin C, so it has an anti-inflammatory effect and relieves the symptoms of a cold. It has a cleansing effect on the intestines, especially if taken in the morning on an empty stomach.

Lemons

They are an excellent detoxifying agent and contain large amounts of vitamin C. Even though lemons have an acidic taste, they have an alkalizing effect on human metabolism and regulate our pH. Also, they contain hesperetin, which relieves allergies. During the detoxification period, it is highly recommended to consume lemon juice. You can also add cayenne pepper.

Beetroot

Beetroot was used by the ancient Romans as a tonic to cleanse the blood. Its components bind heavy metals. In Leadville, a mining area in Colorado, USA, beets, carrots and bananas are used to remove contaminants from water. Beetroot contains methionine, which lowers cholesterol and removes natural waste from the body. Beetroot also contains anthocyanin, which inhibits the growth of tumours and cancer cells, and also contains betanin, which increases the rate at which the liver breaks down fatty acids. This helps relieve the liver, which can therefore fight more dangerous toxins more effectively.