Foods for healthy hair

5 foods for healthy hair

Want to boost your hair's natural beauty? 

Start incorporating more of these foods into your diet, 

and you may see a real difference in your hair's health.

Healthy hair doesn’t stop with the kind of shampoo you use or how often you wash your hair. It also includes your diet. Here are five foods that will help keep your hair healthy:

1. Blueberries:

Blueberries are one of nature’s healthiest fruits. Dark berries in general (such as blackberries, raspberries and strawberries) are known to have lots of antioxidants, which are important for combating the free radicals in our body. In addition, blueberries have a lower glycemic index than a lot of other fruit, making them an ideal choice for people with diabetes or for those focusing on weight loss. Blueberries also have a ton of vitamin C, which is essential for healthy hair, since it feeds the tiny hair follicles in your scalp. Without adequate vitamin C, your hair can break more easily. So eat your blueberries!

2. Salmon:

Wild-caught salmon (as opposed to farm-raised) is chock full of omega-3 fatty acids, which include EPA and DHA, oils that our body doesn’t create on its own and are essential to healthy hair, and a healthy body. Salmon is also an excellent source of protein, another essential nutrient for healthy hair. If you don’t like salmon, try eating walnuts or flaxseed, which are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

3. Oysters:

Another from the sea, oysters are rich in zinc, an essential nutrient to your hair’s health. Too little zinc can lead to hair breakage or a flaky scalp. If you’re not a fan of oysters, you can boost your zinc intake with beef and eggs, which also are great sources of protein.

4. Leafy greens:

Like you need another reason to eat your spinach! You know that leafy greens are important for a whole host of reasons, but now you can add a few more. They have iron, beta carotene, folate and vitamin C – all nutrients that help keep your hair full of luster and shine. You can eat spinach, kale, Swiss chard, or even broccoli to reap these valuable benefits.

5. Avocados:

Many shampoos and hair treatments contain avocado as one of their main ingredients. That’s because using avocado can repair damaged hair, prevent hair loss, and even promote hair growth! But eating this fruit (yes, avocado is a fruit!) can be good for your hair, too. Avocados are rich in numerous nutrients, particularly vitamins B and E, which are important for keeping hair strong and preventing hair loss. Known as a superfood, avocados are also rich in omega-3s, antioxidants, vitamin C, K, and folate.

Another way to boost your hair’s natural luster? Being pregnant! That’s because, during pregnancy, the growth/rest cycle of your hair is slowed down, and less hair is falling out than normal.

 Unfortunately, after you have that baby, your gorgeous, shiny hair will start to fall out (oh, the joys of motherhood). 

All the more important to boost your hair’s luster with the foods mentioned above. Not only will you have healthy hair, you’ll have a healthier body too.

Food for healthy nails

Food for amazing nails

Dry, damaged nails that easily break and flake can be signs of nutritional deficiencies, so make sure you're supporting healthy nail growth with the right diet. Add these beauty foods in – from eggs to spirulina – to transform your fingertips inside-out.
Coconut oil

Cold-pressed coconut oil is packed with good fats which replenish and hydrate the nails and cuticles. Plus as key vitamins such as a, d, e, and k are fat soluble, the fats help the body to properly absorb nutrients from other foods to better nourish nails from your diet.

Quinoa

Protein is essential for nail growth as our nails are made of keratin, a protein made by cells. Quinoa is a complete source of protein, perfect for non meat or dairy eaters. It also contains more calcium than milk as well as hydrating essential fatty acids and nail growth-promoting vitamin e and b vitamins.

Spirulina

Spirulina, a blue-green algae sold as a supplement, is 60-70% protein making it the food highest in protein per ounce, and like the similar superfood chlorella, it's a very absorbable and easily digestible form of protein. It also packs iron, chlorophyll and omega 3 and 6 making it not only super for nail health but for hair and skin too. Add it to your smoothies sharpish.

Hemp seeds

Hemp seeds are rich in protein and amino acids which are the building blocks of protein. They also contain those key b vitamins, vitamin e and hydrating healthy fats. Sprinkle them on your salads, blend them in your smoothies or drizzle cold hemp seed oil on any meal!
Wheatgrass and barleygrass

Juiced fresh or powdered, these nutrient-dense superfoods are 47% protein and also boast amino acids (those building blocks again!), plenty of calcium, iron, zinc, potassium and magnesium. If you can't stomach a daily shot take them as supplements or mix some with green juices.

Eggs

Eggs contain biotin, or vitamin b7, which helps nails to grow stronger and smoother. They also contain vitamin d to support calcium absorption and are another complete protein source.

Brazil nuts

Brazil nuts are the number one nut for selenium, a mineral that fuels protein enzymes and prevents cell damage to help support healthy nails. You don't need much – one Brazil nut delivers your daily dose, as well as zinc, vitamin e and b vitamins!

Mispel reguliert die Darmfunktion und bremst Arteriosklerose

Mispel reguliert die Darmfunktion und verhindert Verkalkung

Der in Deutschland und Frankreich heimische Mispelbaum (Mespilus germa­nica) wurde im Mittelalter so häufig ange­baut, dass er heute noch oft verwildert an­zutreffen ist. Karl der Große ordnete den Anbau im “Capitulare de villis” an. Heute ist die Mispel im wärmeren gemäßigten Euro­pa und in Nordamerika kultiviert und ver­wildert verbreitet.

Die Mispel bildet einen bis 3m, in der Kultur auch bis 6m hoch werdenden, dor­nigen, in der Kultur aber meist unbedorn­ten Baum mit anfänglich filzig behaarten Zweigen, lanzettlichen, fast völlig ganzran­digen, nur an der Spitze feingezähnten Blättern. Die einzelnen, rosenförmigen, an Kurztrieben endständigen, großen, weißen, duftlosen Blüten sind am Grunde mit einem blassgrünen Hochblatt versehen.

Aus den Blüten gehen sehr herb schmec­kende, apfel- oder birnenförmige Früchte von brauner Farbe hervor. Sie enthalten fünf Kerne und sind frisch praktisch unge­nießbar. 

Erst wenn Frost darübergegangen ist oder sie einige Wochen im Stroh gelagert haben, werden sie teigig und bekommen einen obstartigen Geruch sowie einen süßsäuerlichen Geschmack. Wegen des hohen Pektingehaltes geliert der Saft aus­gezeichnet.

Die Mispel wird als Obstbaum entweder unveredelt gezogen oder auf Birne, Apfel, Quitte oder Weißdorn gepfropft. Die Kul­tursorten sind großfruchtig und werden nach ihrer Form als Apfel- oder Birnmispel bezeichnet. Die holländische Riesenmispel gilt als die ertragreichste Sorte.

Diätische Eigenschaften und Wirkungen der Mispel

Die diätetischen Eigenschaften der Mis­pel sind von alters her bekannt. 

Sie wirkt 

• harntreibend und 
• entfaltet bei Darmkatarrhen eine entzündungswidrige,
  hemmen­de, die Darmtätigkeit regulierende Wir­kung.
  

Die in der Volksmedizin genannte Wirkung bei Krämpfen, Krampfadern und Blutungen ist umstritten.

Diese Wirkungen sind aus den bisher noch ungenügend bekannten Inhaltsstoffen nur teilweise zu verstehen. Das Frucht­fleisch der Mispel enthält 

0,5% Eiweiß, 0,03% Fett, 10,6% Kohlenhydrate (davon 9,1% Zucker), 75% Wasser, 13,2% Zellu­lose, 0,44% Asche, ferner viel Pektin, Gerb­stoff, Zitronen-, Apfel-, Weinsäure sowie etwas Borsäure. Die Kerne enthalten 2,5% fettes Öl. Der Kaloriengehalt beträgt 42.

Der Gerbstoff- und Pektingehalt erklärt die durchfallwidrige, stuhlregulierende, adstringierende und tonisierende Wirkung auf die Darmschleimhäute. Man nutzt die­se Wirkung aus bei Durchfällen jeder Art. Früher gab man die rohe Mispel sogar bei Ruhr und ruhrähnlichen Durchfällen.
Als Kompott zubereitet, hat die Mispel eine weit geringere Stopfwirkung. Wie be­reits erwähnt, steht hierbei die darmregu­lierende Wirkung im Vordergrund.

Wichtig ist jedenfalls der Pektingehalt der Mispel. Nach Untersuchungen von Prof. Ancel Keys (Minneapolis), einem der bedeutendsten Kenner der Blutgefäßleiden, senkt Pektin den erhöhten Choleste­rinspiegel im Blut, der die Blutgefäßverkal­kung (Arteriosklerose) und die Entstehung des Herzinfarkts begünstigt. Es ist daher sehr zweckmäßig, Mispeln ebenso wie Äp­fel (3-4 Mispeln oder 2 Äpfel enthalten die täglich notwendige Menge von etwa 15g Pektin) in die Diät der Kreislauf- und Herz­ kranken einzufügen.

Prof. Dr. Heupke empfiehlt folgende Zu­bereitung für eine kurmäßige Verwen­dung:

1000g Mispeln werden mit 800g Zucker in 500g Wasser 45 Minuten gekocht und dann in Flaschen gefüllt. Einige Wo­chen lang nimmt man morgens auf nüchternen Magen 20ccm Saft.

Hauptwirkstoffe in 100g Frischsubstanz

Eiweiß	0,5g
Fett	0,03g
Kohlenhydrate	10,6g
Natrium	6mg
Kalium	250mg
Kalzium	30mg
Magnesium	11mg
Phosphor	28mg
Eisen	0,5mg
Vitamin C	2mg
Kalorien	42
Joule	178

Nutrients boosting testosterone levels

Testosterone boosting Nutrients

Testosterone levels are important for both men and women to consider, not just to buff up and stay strong, but also to support our body’s natural growth hormone, a key hormone to keep our bodies youthful and energized. 

Testosterone also supports our libidos, our mood, and our levels of motivation and drive. Though women don’t want too much testosterone, a little is actually important to ward off excess estrogen that can lead to depression, weight gain, hormonal changes, or just an overall imbalance of sex hormones in the body. And men, of course, are always looking to improve their testosterone levels to help build muscle, staystrong, and support their male livelihood that the big T word is often associated with.

Nutrients That Boost Testosterone Levels

Key nutrients needed to boost testosterone in the body are: amino acids (protein), zinc, B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and an overall anti-inflammatory diet. These nutrients are found in both plant-based and animal-based foods, but there’s no reason to think that one needs to eat steak, eggs, chicken, fish, or drink milk to boost testosterone. In fact, many animal-based foods can actually increase estrogen in the body, which lowers testosterone and can lead to some negative side effects due the estrogen coming from animals that have hormones our bodies weren’t meant to consume.

Regardless that animal-based foods and dairy-based protein powders or supplements are promoted to boost testosterone levels, in some studies vegans have actually been found to have higher levels of testosterone than meat-eaters or even vegetarians. The best part is, they also had less cancer risks due to the removal of animal proteins in their diets.

To boost your testosterone without the risks of eating animal-based foods, here are some of the best plant-based options that you’ll want to add to your daily menu if you can. These are delicious proof that you can boost testosterone in the body without having to eat animals to get your fill!

1. Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds are packed with zinc, a crucial mineral needed for optimal testosterone levels. Zinc keeps the sex organs healthy and promotes a healthy metabolism that assists with the conversion of certain hormones. They’re also great sources of tryptophan, an amino acid that helps the body produce more serotonin, which helps balance your hormones even further. These alkaline green seeds are also one of the most overlooked sources of plant-based protein, iron, and are great sources of healthy omega-3 fats.

2. Coconut

Coconut’s a great food to boost your muscle-growth, promote lean body mass, and balance your body’s hormones including testosterone. 

How so? It’s a great source of healthy saturated fats, which most people think they need to avoid, but when eaten from plant-based sources, is actually helpful in moderate amounts. 

Saturated fats are necessary for testosterone production and they support the body’s ability to make cholesterol without having to consume added dietary cholesterol from animal-based foods. 

A few tablespoons of raw coconut butter, shreds, coconut milk, or fresh coconut meat are all you need to support your body with this healthy source of fat. 

It’s still a good idea to limit all sources of saturated fats to10 percent of your daily diet and not rely on them alone.

3. Maca

Maca is a fabulous food for boosting and normalizing or improving your hormones. It can boost the libido and improve mood in both men and women, and is fantastic for reducing stress levels that can interfere with healthy testosterone levels. Maca is also great for boosting your energy to help you exercise, which boosts testosterone in return. When you workout, especially when you lift weights, you naturally boost your testosterone levels, which makes maca a great superfood to use on all counts. Working out and maca also both support your body’s production of growth hormones that supports your metabolism and keeps the body youthful.

4. Avocado

Also a libido-boosting food, this fruit’s healthy fats and high levels of vitamin B6 both reduce cortisol and improve testosterone production. They also support the metabolism and overall mood function. Avocados’ fats also reduce high levels of unhealthy cholesterol levels (LDL) that interferes with the production of testosterone. Animal-based fats raise high levels of LDL while plant-based fats lower LDL and improve levels of good cholesterol (HDL). See more plant-based foods with good levels of cholesterol that can also support your hormones here.

5. Chia Seeds

Chia seeds directly boost testosterone levels in the body due to their amazing essential fatty acid (EFA) profile. They’re a great source of omega-3 fats, along with other anti-inflammatory fats. Chia seeds are also a great source of potassium, zinc, iron, magnesium that support your metabolism, blood pressure, blood sugar, and mood. These nutrients are also necessary for optimal energy and hormone production in the body. Hemp seeds are also amazing for your hormone levels and they contain more protein, iron, and magnesium than chia seeds do.

Other great foods to support your body’s hormones that contain omega-3 fatty acids, natural protein, and vitamins and minerals are: almonds, walnuts, cashews, flax seeds and olives. You can also add more vegan libido-boosting foods to your diet to improve your hormones even further. As you can see, there’s no whey or steak needed here. Add a few servings of these five foods to your day and you’ll be well on your way to healthier T levels in no time!

18 Metabolism Boosting Foods

18 Metabolism Boosting Foods

When it comes to losing weight and being healthier overall, increasing your metabolism plays a big part. A faster metabolism helps you with digestion, and helps burn off fat and pounds, even while you’re sleeping. Conversely, a slow metabolism can thwart your dieting and weight loss efforts and leave you in a state of frustration, feeling like you’re genetically programmed to be heavy. Here are foods that have been shown to help give your metabolism a boost and get you on your way to a fitter you.

Almonds

You don’t want to go too big on the almonds, because their fat content can undo any boost they have to your metabolism, but research suggests that almonds and other tree nuts can help you out due to the essential fatty acidsthey contain. The good thing is they taste great, so you can use them as a snack to hold you over until your next meal, or you can chop them up and use them to top a main or side dish. Green beans are one vegetable that lends itself well to slivered almonds. And if you want to liven things up you can get similar benefits from other nuts like walnuts or cashews.

Asparagus

Some claim that asparagus is a negative calorie food, requiring more calories to chew and digest it than it contains. While this may or may not be the case, it’s clear that its caloric load is low, while it nutrient load is high. It makes a great food for dieting because of its unique and delicious taste. It’s a great side sitting next to a lean meat. Get the organic kind if available, as this will help keep it a very healthy vegetable to assist you in your efforts.

Beans

Beans are often suggested for those wanting to lose weight because their nutrient makeup is such that they have a very positive effect on your metabolism. While they may be colloquially known as the musical fruit, they are definitely worth exploring if you don’t currently include them in your regular diet. They make a great side dish for most lunches and dinners, and they can easily be added to soups and chili to make them more robust and flavorful. In the Slow Carb Diet featured in The Four Hour Body, beans are front and center for their slow-burning properties.

Cruciferous Vegetables

The B Vitamins that are contained in foods like Cabbage, Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli, Cauliflower, and others has a healthy effect on your metabolism and can really start to turn things around if you previously didn’t give much care or attention to the matter. These aren’t the easiest veggies to increase your intake of, but if you look for recipes that contain them they’ll usually include them with other ingredients that make them taste better than eating them straight.

Celery

Celery is one of those quintessential diet foods that you see people unhappily gnawing on in lieu of ice cream and hamburgers. But aside from the stereotype, there is something to be said for eating celery if you want to turn over a new leaf and get your metabolism going. It’s thought of as a thermogenic food, and also has high levels of calcium to boot. Try dipping them in organic peanut butter so that you can get some good fats along with this time-tested metabolism booster.

Coconut Oil

For a long time coconut oil was not suggested as a good oil to use because of its high fat content. Now we know more about good fats vs. bad fats and it’s become clear that there are plenty of benefits to consuming coconut oil, including the positive results on the metabolism. The only thing is that you can’t rely on just this for your efforts, as it only provides a minimal boost, and it doesn’t last indefinitely.

Coffee

Whether or not you want to start drinking coffee to speed up your metabolism is up to you. It’s often mentioned as a food that can help you burn calories, but at the same time it takes its toll on the liver, and you should drink 3 extra cups of water for every cup of coffee you have in order to help your liver flush out the caffeine and stay hydrated. You’ll also have to take care not to add a bunch of sugar and cream, or go with a specialty coffee that will have way too many calories and carbs.

Cucumbers

You might not look at cucumbers the same way the next time you see them in a your salad. There are plenty of reasons why they play nicely into your metabolism-boosting strategy. They’re packed with water, so they help to hydrate your body, plus they have plenty of vitamins, nutrients, and fiber, all with very low caloric levels. You can try adding them to more than just salads. Cucumber slices or sticks can make a nice side dish to a sandwich or wrap, and can be combined with other vegetables in a healthy mix.

Easy-to-Find Fruits

Maybe you heard the debates going on about exotic fruits like the acai berry, or noni fruit. But you don’t have to get exotic in order to find fruits that will serve as a boost to your metabolism. You can find items like Strawberries, Raspberries, Pears, Peaches, Apples, Oranges, and Grapefruit at your local supermarket. Opt for organic whenever possible, and realize that it’s a matter of tipping the balance so you’re eating more of these foods than you are foods that can slow your metabolism down.

Ginger

The best way to start getting more ginger is to use it when cooking other foods. It’s not like you can sit around eating a bunch of ginger root. But it does add a good amount of flavor, and has been shown to have metabolism-increasing properties. Dr. Oz recommends tossing into your next stir fry, and if you use skinless boneless chicken breast, spices, and veggies like celery and carrots you’ll soon have a calorie burning meal that will hold you over for hours.

Green Tea

Green tea has plenty of health benefits, and shows up as a superfood on many lists of the healthiest things you can put in your body. If you’re looking for increased metabolism production you might be surprised to learn that the EGCG in green tea is often used by diet pill manufacturers for this very reason. Rather than mess around with the risk and expense of weight loss pills, it’s better to go with the natural source and increase your intake of green tea. If hot tea isn’t your thing, brew a pot and let it cool or pour it over ice.

Lean Meats

Lean meats should be combined with exercise to help you develop leaner muscles which in turn leads to an increase in your metabolism. They should have a good amount of protein to them, with fewer calories and fat than their non-lean counterparts. Examples of quality protein you can add to your diet in order to help strengthen your muscles are chicken breast, turkey breast, When making a meal that’s great for your body take some vegetables found on this page, as well as the spices listed below, use the on these lean meats and you’ll be on your way.

Lemon

Adding a lemon wedge or slice to your water does more than just make it taste better, it also helps to cleanse the digestive tract. You don’t have to go on any zany Lemonade Diet or take extreme measures, and it’s best not to rely on lemons or any other of these foods to have a huge effect on your metabolism. But they can all work in tandem with each other, and with an increase in the amount of exercise you get each day, and you’ll see the positive effects soon enough.

Melon

Popular melons like Honeydew and Cantaloupe not only taste great, but are also low in calories and have been featured in countless diet books and programs. The cantaloupe especially has been thought to be a good that contains fewer calories than it takes to eat it, meaning that you’re actually losing weight by consuming it. It’s never been proven, but these are still great foods to add to your diet, and they can be found year round in the produce department.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal is a good start to the day for most people. Compared to other breakfast options it has plenty more fiber, and as your body works to break it down and pass it through it revs itself up and burns off more calories. It’s also been shown to lower your cholesterol, so there’s plenty of reason to eat it. Just be sure you don’t have a gluten allergy or gluten sensitivity, or you won’t be able to get the same sort of benefits that others get from consuming it.

Spices

There are plenty of spices out there that have been shown to be able to charge up your metabolism. Up for your consideration are Curry, Black Pepper, Mustard, Cayenne Pepper, and Cinnamon. You don’t have to eat spoonfuls of these spices directly, but don’t be shy with them, as they can help to add flavor to otherwise bland foods. If you spot other foods on this list that you don’t fancy eating, try spicing them up with the above spices and you’ll be serving up a one-two punch to a sluggish metabolism.

Spinach

Spinach puts up some respectable numbers in the B Vitamin department, which leads to a more productive metabolism. And aside from the direct relation, it’s also good for muscle function. If you’re strength training, spinach will help your muscles recover, and this will lead to a faster metabolism because you’ll end up with better muscle mass which directly leads to burning up more calories, even when you’re asleep.

Water

Keep all of your organs happy and functioning the way they should be making sure you get enough water each day. Your metabolism won’t be at its best when your body is yearning for hydration. Any drink other than water helps to dehydrate the body, so it’s really easy to get into a dehydrated state, and harder than you might think to get properly hydrated. Start off slowly, but introducing one new glass of water in phases and see how your body responds.

Keep in mind 

that it’s not necessary to switch your diet to only these foods or do anything extreme. Just try to get more of them into your daily menu than you currently do and you should start to see the results of your efforts. Revving up your metabolism is not something that happens overnight, so don’t look for a quantum leap. Your body needs time to adjust to your new way of eating. But if you’re consistent it will get the hint and start paying dividends

20 Foods that Detox Your Body & Mind

The connection between the body and the mind is a very real one,
with the way your body feels playing a big part in how your brain functions
and whether or not you experience a state of well-being.

Keeping it free of toxins, free radicals, and other nasty things that can end up in our
insides is essentially to maintaining a healthy life.

You’ll notice that with many of these detox foods the road to purification goes through
the liver, and getting it to full capacity can have several long-lasting
benefits throughout the body.

Artichokes

Artichokes help the liver function at its best,
which in turn will help your body purge itself
of toxins and other things it doesn’t need to survive.

It ups the liver’s production of bile, and since bile
helps break down foods which helps your body use
the nutrients inside them, an increase in bile
production is typically a good thing.

Aside from all of the benefits to your liver, it’s also
filled with fiber, protein, magnesium, folate,
and potassium.
It’s simply a good food to add to your diet in order to
stay regular, stay healthy, and keep your liver happily
doing its job.

Asparagus

Despite being a tasty veggie asparagus ranks highly on
the detox-o-meter. Not only does it help to detoxify the
body, it can help you wage the anti-aging battle,
protect you from getting cancer, help your heart to stay
healthy, and is a general anti-inflammatory food.

It’s also known to help with liver drainage, which might
sound like a bad thing, but since the liver is responsible
for filtering out the toxic materials in the food and drinks
we consume, anything that backs up its drainage is not
oing you any favors.

Avocados

Because of its fiber and antioxidant count this is
a foodthat is making it onto more and more detox lists.

At first many shied away from them because of they’re
high in fat, but ever since the difference between good
fats and bad fats become more commonly known,
they are now getting the respect they deserve.

Don’t think that the guacamole you can add to your
meal at a fast food restaurant for 50 cents more is
going to do the detox trick. Opt for organic avocados
and consume them without any other ingredients to
get the full benefit of their healthy content.

Beets

You may only see beets when you order a Greek salad, but you should
make a bigger effort to include them into your regular menu, and definitely
pick some up if you’re going on a detox diet. There are so many different
benefits to them, it’s easy to se e why they are often mentioned as a super food.

When you’re detoxing they will help by making sure that the toxins you’re getting
out actually make it out of your body. Many detox cleanses go wrong when
toxins are reintroduced to the body because they don’t make it all the way out.
Beets also help with free-radicals, making them an anti-cancer aid.

Broccoli

You’re probably sick of seeing broccoli show up all over the place whenever health
food is mentioned. But that’s only because it packs a nutritional punch in a
mini-tree shaped vegetable. Why does it belong on your detox food shopping list?

It specifically works with the enzymes in your liver to turn toxins into something
your body can eliminate easily.

If you’re stuck for ways on how to make broccoli taste better try changing up the
way you cook it, or consider eating it raw. But don’t microwave it or it won’t have
the same detox properties.

Cabbage

Don’t let the fad Cabbage Soup Detox Diet throw you off course with this helpful
vegetable. Like most things that go viral this diet has some truth to it,
but you don’t have to go to extremes. Cabbage helps your liver with
the byproduct being lower cholesterol, so there is more than one reason
to include this cruciferous vegetable.


In addition to cleansing your liver cabbage will also aid in helping you go to
the bathroom, which in turn helps you expel the toxins, getting them out
of your system so you can start fresh.

Dandelions

Happy liver, healthy life is the motto here, and dandelion root can help you on
your quest to a healthy liver that does its daily duties. This plant is considered a
weed by most lawn enthusiasts, but it has several healing properties for the liver,
and therefore should not be overlooked when it comes time for detox.

Dandelion has been used to treat liver problems dating back hundreds of years,
but you don’t have to wait until your liver is in dire straights to get the benefits.
Strengthening an already healthy liver will still yield plenty of good results
and makes it worth looking into dandelion on your quest for a cleanse.

Garlic

Many detox diets list garlic as a crucial piece of the puzzle. The reason is that garlic
boosts up the immune system as well as helping out the liver. One good thing
about garlic is that you can up your intake of it without having to worry if your
body is going to get used to it or build up a resistance.


One other positive aspect is that it can help to add flavor to otherwise bland foods
that you’ll be eating on your detox program. But if you don’t like the taste of garlic
you can still get its benefits because it comes in supplement form.

Ginger

This is one root whose medicinal value dates back to ancient Chinese civilizations,
and one that is still believed to offer many health benefits. Often used in a tea
or other drink, you can add it to the meals you make as well. It is thought to help
the liver function, and has some astringent properties.


Some detox diets ask you to chew on ginger root. You may also find that adding it
to hot water makes the water taste better. Basically any way you can think of it get
it into your system is going to be beneficial, especially if you’re suffering from a
fatty liver caused by too much alcohol, or too many toxic foods and drinks.

Grapefruit

The fiber and the nutrient-rich juices in a grapefruit pack a nice detox punch and can
really get your body into action as far as detoxing goes. It’s all about flooding the
body with good things for it while helping it dislodge the bad things. The effects
of grapefruit on weight loss are well-established, and one reason may be because of
the way it makes the liver burn up fat.


The big takeaway on grapefruit is that it gets your liver fired up and ready for action,
while infusing the rest of your organs with nutrient-laden fruit juice.
It’s a winner when it comes to detox foods.

Green Tea

Green tea is often thought of as a great addition to any detox program because of its
high antioxidant value. Antioxidants are helpful because they will help seek out and kill
free radicals before they can do any damage. This is a great beverage to drink
on a daily basis for this factor alone.

Getting into a healthy state of mind is a matter of feeling like you’re doing what’s
best for your body. It can be something as simple as substituting green tea for colas,
juices, and other teas so that you can actually be benefiting your body from a
beverage instead of hurting it.

Kale

Dr. Oz includes kale in his 48 Hour Weekend Cleanse and recommends blending
it up in a shake. However you choose to get it into your body, the benefits are that
it contains plenty of nutrients, and also acts as a way to help flush out the kidneys,
a set of organs that must be cleansed on any good detox effort.


This vegetable is so good for you that it is often recommended to patients that are
following a doctor recommended diet when fighting kidney disease.
It’s packed with so many antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties
as well, not to mention all of the vitamins and minerals it contains.

Lemongrass

This is an herb that is used in Thailand and other parts of the world as a natural
way to cleanse several organs at once. It not only helps the liver but also the kidneys,
the bladder, and the entire digestive tract. Benefits of using it in your cooking,
or drinking it as a tea include a better complexion, better circulation,
and better digestion.


It is most often used as a tea in the world of detoxing, and there are several
recipes you can try until you find one that suits your tastes best.

Lemons

Lemons and lemon juice are often mentioned when detoxing, and there’s
even a few Lemon Detox Diets floating around out there. It’s simply a matter of
adding lemon juice to water and drinking it. It’s supposed to flush toxins from your
body. Some people add cayanne pepper and sweeten it with sugar,
but sugar is not recommended if you’re trying to get a detoxifying effect from it.

It helps with your digestion and you can drink a cup of hot water with lemon added
in order to prepare your digestive system for that day’s work.

Olive Oil

Some liver cleanses out there call for olive oil mixed with fruit juice in order to trigger
your liver to expunge its gallstones. But aside from that olive oil should be your go-to
oil for use in cooking when you’re trying to detox the body. That’s because it has a lot
of healthy properties, and makes for a better choice of fat than most of your other options.

Just be sure not to cook with it at high heat. Use it as a salad dress to help things
like dark leafy greens go down.

Seaweed

This probably doesn’t enter your menu unless it’s wrapped around a piece of sushi,
but seaweed has a ton of nutrients and antioxidants in it. If you’re trying to get
more detox foods into the body, don’t go for the nori they used to hold
together a sushi roll, you’ll want to go with kelp instead to get the most out of it
and avoid the salt that’s added to the dried nori.

The kelp is used in Asian cuisine and can often be found in soups. That’s a great
way to have it when you’re detoxing, and it makes it so it’s easy to
digest and tastes good too.

Turmeric

This is an herb that usually shows up as a tea, and it has specifically been studied
in relation to the effect that it has on the liver. It’s said that you can do a detox using
just turmeric tea, and drinking it for a week straight along with a healthy diet.

If you are simply looking for a way to start adding detoxifying foods to your diet,
it would be good to keep this on hand and to substitute it for another beverage to reap
its healthy benefits.

Water

Water is often overlooked but is so important for all of your organs, and for flushing
toxins out of your body. If you’re exercising and taking saunas to help release the
toxins it becomes even more important to stay hydrated.

If you’re not used to drinking water daily, be sure to only increase your intake by
one cup at a time so you don’t overload yourself. Your kidneys won’t know what
to do if they’re not used to getting water and then get a ton of it.

Watercress

Give your liver a big boost with cleansing action of watercress. If you’re into making
smoothies for your detoxing this is a great one to blend up and drink down. You can
also try adding it to a salad, but you might want to make sure you enjoy the taste first.
It’s an acquired taste for some, and a source of consistent dislike for others.

This helps to release enzymes in the liver that clean it out and help rid it of toxic buildup.
A great way to be good to yourself!

Wheatgrass

All of those health nuts that have been drinking wheatgrass shakes for years were
onto something. This is a great boost to your liver and it can help you feel good all
day due to its alkaline property.

It’s also effective at lowering your blood sugar and for getting your metabolism back on track.
It’s simply a great food to consume, and is a nice counteraction to any junk you may
have eaten in the past. Show your body you really do love it.

Keep in mind

that not one single detox food on this list is a magical one that you can focus all
of your attention on to fully cleanse the body.

Consider increasing your intake on as many as you can reasonably accommodate.
Some might be hard to incorporate, either because you can’t find them locally or
you can’t picture yourself adding them to your diet.




Just do the best you can to come up with a detox plan

that works for you and that you feel good about.