10 Foods To Detoxify Your Digestion

As businesses start re-opening and the weather starts to heat up, you are probably feeling like getting out of the house and jumping headfirst into summer. But as many of us have been without a gym and on a Postmates and beer diet for months… you might be feeling a little sluggish.

If you went a little overboard the last few weeks or months and want to clean up your act and your tract, you’ve come to the right place.

First off, DON’T DO A JUICE CLEANSE. Calorie deprivation is never a good thing, especially not when you’re about to boost your activity and head out into the heat. However, there are still ways to change how you eat to get your body back on track while not cutting the calories (too much). Exercising, cutting out alcohol and refined sugars, and eating the majority of your calories from raw or steamed fruits and veggies will do wonders for your body and your mood.

Here are our top 10 healthy foods with natural cleansing properties. Add a couple to your clean-eating routine for added detoxification.

Watercress

There’s a reason watercress is first on our list. Not only is it one of the healthiest and lowest calorie veggies available… but it’s widely overlooked. Delicate, peppery, and perfect for light summer salads, it keeps free radicals away from your cells, boosts detoxifying enzymes in your liver (great for the morning after some heavy drinking), and is a natural diuretic.

Artichokes

Numerous studies show that artichokes promote healthy liver and gallbladder function; they’re also loaded with cynarin, which helps increase bile production, prevents indigestion, and stimulates healthy digestion. If you’re looking for a natural detox food, artichokes are a major winner.

Beets

Beets can, literally, push toxins out of your body. Beets contain a group of phytonutrients, called betalains, that support detoxification through increasing enzymes (such as glutathione S-transferase), an important Phase II detox step for your liver. When your liver is able to detoxify chemicals and toxins more effectively, then your body is better able to balance your hormones, keep your cholesterol levels in check, and improve your energy levels.

Green Tea

It’s hotter than hell, and you’re going to want to be sipping on chilled beverages all day long. From spiked seltzers to beers, to sweet teas, and sweetened Starbucks, there are a lot of cool temptations to steer you off track! One great way to get ahead of those cravings is to make yourself some brewed green tea which you can pour over ice, or chill in the fridge for a refreshing sip. It’s high in catechin — which speeds up liver activity and increases the production of detoxification enzymes.

Lemon Water

With lemon-scented all over the cleaner aisle, we’ve grown to know that lemons are great for cleaning. But not just your kitchen. Lemon juice acts as a digestive and a detoxifying agent and helps in cleaning the liver leading to better digestive health. … As a rich source of vitamin C, lemon juice protects the body from Immune system deficiencies. Drinking lemon juice with warm water every morning helps in maintaining the pH balance of the body and helps with digestion.

Dark Leafy Greens

Good ol’ dark leafy greens. It seems like they’re on every superfood list you’ve ever seen, right? Well, that’s for a good reason! As leafy greens they are full of nearly every naturally growing vitamin and mineral we know of, making them the perfect solution of a wide variety of issues. including iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium, and vitamins, including some B vitamins as well as vitamins K, C, E. Many of these nutrients are involved in the detoxification process. They are full of fiber, which makes them slow to digest and great for staying full.

Pineapple

Most fruits (especially citrus and berries) contain some amount of of vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber, and are a great addition to any clean-eating diet. However, for today we want to focus on one that is extra powerful with detoxification and often goes overlooked. Pineapple is bromelain rich fruit which helps in breaking down of proteins and its digestion. It also helps in reducing inflammation and helps alkalize the body. Be aware of the sugar, but not afraid! Adding 1-2 servings of pineapple per day (especially in exchange for other sugar in your diet) is an extremely fun and tasty way to help detox. Just make sure you’re not mindlessly eating too much or eating excess pineapple on top of an already sweetened diet, the sugar content can quickly add up.

Cabbage

Not only is cabbage eaten in many cultures for luck and prosperity around the New Year, but it’s also known for its liver-cleansing properties. Like asparagus, this cruciferous veggie comes in several colors. Cabbage does double detox duty. Its diuretic properties help rid your body of excess liquid, carrying toxins along with it. Like other cruciferous veggies, cabbage is also sulfur-rich, helping your liver break down toxins so they can be more easily expelled.

Ginger and Garlic

Ginger and garlic are good friends to the liver because they help it get rid of free radicals that are built up in the body. These two are famous food friends, and the combination of them together has extra benefits for digestion, weight loss, and detoxification. Ginger’s medicinal properties are very popular in Ayurveda; it is considered as a traditional remedy for indigestion, nausea, and bloating. Garlic, on the other hand, is famous for its anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. They are both very potent herbs in themselves; together they can weave magic, especially when it comes to immunity and weight-management. Ginger garlic tea is a great idea to boost immunity and aid in weight loss.