By Lisa Metzgar, PhD, Nutrition Tidbits - Body Detox Using Vegetables
The Easter Bunny has come and gone and with it he has brought beautiful spring weather. Plants are starting to sprout and blossoms are filling my peach and pear trees. The winter hibernation is behind us and it is time to get out in the spring air. This time of year is a great time to do a little spring cleaning. This also means looking at cleaning up our diets, detoxifying our bodies, and getting outside more. After the long winter months are bodies are longing to get moving and get rid of the sluggish feeling we get when we hibernate. Being inside all winter with the windows and doors shut tight can lead to more toxins so air out your home and get some fresh air!
I love this time of year because you start to see more fresh fruits and vegetables. We are planning our spring garden which is a great activity for our children. Children get outside in the fresh air, plant their special seeds, care for their plants, and then harvest the fresh produce that all their loving care created. It teaches our children about taking responsibility, gets them active, and teaches them about proper nutrition. There is nothing more satisfying than going out to your own garden and creating a fresh healthy meal.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are a great way to clean our bodies of toxins. Processed foods have chemicals that cause our bodies to become toxic…leading to low energy, poor sleep, and numerous metabolic diseases. Toxins in our diet interrupt our biochemical messages and lead to weight gain. Juicing is a great way to get a variety of fruits and vegetables into your diet. There are many varieties of juicers on the market but I recommend the types of juicers that you can throw the whole fruit and vegetable in. This way you get all the benefits and fiber of the whole plant.
There is more variety of fruits and vegetables to be found this time of year. The farmer's markets will soon be showing up making it easy to get fresh, locally grown, organic produce. It is best to get as many organic fruits and vegetables as possible.
Another great thing to add to your daily routine to help detoxify the body and combat oxidative stress is to include at least one green tea. I start my day off with a green tea before I do anything else. Try replacing one cup of coffee with a nice cup of tea. It is also great to make iced tea from green tea...very refreshing!
Of course one of the most beneficial things you can do to help detoxify your body is to drink plenty of fresh filtered water. When our bodies are dehydrated, nothing flows. Our cells can't flush out toxins and they get stored in the body which leads to many health issues.
Exercise is also a great way to flush out the body. Sweating and movement helps the body rid itself of toxins by activating the lymph system. Our lymph system doesn't have its own pump so exercise helps get things moving into the circulatory system so it can be eliminated.
Here is a list of foods that are extra beneficial in detoxifying the body:
Broccoli
Kale
Collards
Brussels sprouts
Cauliflower
Bok Choy
Green tea
Watercress
Dandelion Greens
Cilantro
Artichokes
Garlic
Citrus
Pomegranate
Cocoa
Milk Thistle (an herb that helps detoxifies the liver)
Enjoy the beautiful Spring!
