The Natural ABC’s of Detoxification

There is no practical way to protect you from all the toxins in the environment. You would have to live the rest of your life in a hermetically sealed suit (and it would be a short life since you couldn’t eat or drink.) Fortunately, there are ways to counteract some toxins and pollutants. Your body’s natural detoxification processes exist to deal with the ones we can’t avoid. You can help your body perform these processes with the help of regular cleansing.  Let’s start with ABC.

Apple

The benefits of apples are well-documented in research studies. They are closely associated with two aspects of apple nutrients: their water-soluble fiber (pectin) content, and their unusual mix of polyphenols.

Regular intake of apples helps decrease total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol.

Apple provides not only the benefits of the pectin fiber and polyphenols in apples, but also gives you good amounts of malic acid. Malic acid has numerous benefits for digestion and detoxification. It may also assist cellular detoxification of toxic metals, particularly aluminum and strontium.

In addition, apples are rich in calcium, iron, phosphorus and potassium, as well as B-complex folates and vitamins A and C. They are high in antioxidants and research shows apple peel has cancer fighting properties, especially for liver, colon and breast cancer.

Avocado

Avocados, or avocado pear as they are sometimes called, are a mighty powerful fruit. Where most fruits consist mainly of carbohydrate, the avocado is loaded with healthy fats and many studies show that they have powerful effects on your health.

They may be high in fat and calories (138 calories in half a medium-sized avocado) but the avocado is loaded with nearly 20 vitamins and minerals as well as powerful, disease-fighting antioxidants. On top of that they have the ability to increase antioxidant absorption from other foods.

Lowers Cholesterol: As discussed above, avocados are filled with fats that are good for you. Specifically, this is monounsaturated fat which helps to lower bad cholesterol. Numerous studies have shown that eating an avocado can improve heart disease risk factors like Total, LDL and HDL cholesterol, as well as blood triglycerides.

Helps with Weight Loss: Despite their appearance and texture, avocados are high in fibre and very low in carbohydrates. These are two factors that contribute in helping to promote healthy weight loss. They contain around 6 to 7 grams of fibre and it is this content that can help you to feel full faster and longer making it a valuable diet food.

Absorbs Other Nutrients: Some nutrients that we put into our bodies are ‘fat soluble’ which means we need to combine them with fats to be able to utilise them which means moving them from the digestive tract and into the body, where they can be used.  An avocado’s rich fat content makes it easier to absorb fat solubles such as vitamins A, K, D, and E, which means that it will help you get all of the vitamins of your food.

Beets

Beets literally push out toxins

Beets contain a group of phytonutrients called betalains that support detoxification through an important phase 2 detox step in the liver. When your liver is able to detoxify chemicals and toxins more effectively, then your body is better able to balance hormones, cholesterol and energy levels.

Beets are a good source of calcium and vitamin K-The green tops of beets contain vitamins and minerals such as calcium and vitamin K that help to prevent bone loss. Don’t just throw them away!

Beets contain the highest plant source of betaine-They contain an amazing 127 mg in every 100 gram serving. A study by Greek researchers shows that betaine lowers C-reactive protein levels, a marker of heart disease and chronic inflammation.

Broccoli

Broccoli has a strong, positive impact on your body’s detoxification system. Glucoraphanin, gluconasturtiian, and glucobrassicin have been identified by scientists as the three glucosinolate phytonutrients found in aspecial combination in broccoli that are particularly beneficial as detoxification agents. The trio is able to enhance all steps in the body’s natural detoxification process, including activation, neutralization, and elimination of unwanted contaminants.

In addition to its detoxification benefits, broccoli is known to provide other healthy advantages, including digestive support, reduction of inflammation, resistance to harmful bacteria, support for a healthy cardiovascular system, protection against cataracts, improved hormonal balance, reducing symptoms of high blood pressure, decreasing effects of asthma and allergies, supporting healthy cholesterol levels and delivering high levels of antioxidants to reduce cancer risk and promote health.

Cabbage

For many people, cabbage is synonymous with detoxification and weight balance. It cleanses the liver and it’s only 17 calories a cup!

Cabbage juice can be a miracle healer for the GI tract: Many studies show that drinking fresh cabbage juice can heal ulcers much faster than conventional treatments.  Cabbage can fight breast cancer: The cabbage is part of the popular cruciferous family of vegetables that contain molecules called isothiocyanates. These molecules are especially known for their anti-cancer properties and have an affinity for fighting leukemia, breast, prostate and lung cancers. 3. Cabbage is an excellent source of vitamin K:  Our bones depend on vitamin K for strength. All types of cabbage are an excellent source of this fat soluble vitamin that helps in the mineralization of our bones. A deficiency of vitamin K can cause minerals to be deposited into other body tissues, rather than in our bones, and can lead to damage such as the hardening of blood vessels. Cabbage contains antioxidants: Cabbage has high levels of polyphenols – a large group of molecules recognized for their antioxidant power.  One of the great things polyphenols does is protect our bodies from oxidative damage, especially our skin.  Researchers show that people with a diet high in polyphenols experience less damage from UV rays than those with poor polyphenols intake. Cabbage contains essential fatty acids: Cabbage has a surprisingly good content of essential fatty acids (EFAs), especially alpha-linolenic acid (a type of Omega 3). EFAs are needed more in people with inflammatory conditions – research shows that EFAs significantly improve inflammation in cystic fibrosis.

Carrots

Carrots are one of the most beneficial and versatile ingredients you can add into a fresh juice.  Their natural sweetness makes them especially tasty, extremely useful if you are new to juicing or trying to get your kids into it.  Packed full of health promoting nutrients, carrots do so much more than help you see in the dark.

Well, apart from giving carrots their bright orange color, beta-carotene is an antioxidant found in these root vegetables that is converted into vitamin A when metabolized by the liver. And getting enough Vitamin A is great for your eyes since this crucial vitamin supports cornea health, maintains ideal visual function and keeps the eyes resilient against diseases like macular degeneration, conjunctivitis, chronic dryness and even cataracts. It even helps boost your night vision.

It’s not just vitamin A, either – carrots are packing a dose of vitamins and minerals that benefit the body.

And this is so important since despite being overfed, many people are clinically undernourished: lacking the essential nutrients required for optimal wellbeing.  Modern farming practices have demineralized the soil and we overcook our food and industrially process the nutrients right out of it.

The sheer volume of fruit and vegetables required to provide your body with sufficient nutrients can be overwhelming.  Which is where juicing the humble carrot comes in. This orange root veggie is full of:

Pro-vitamin A, also called beta-carotene, which is an essential nutrient that the body cannot produce by itself

Carrots are also high in: Vitamins C, D, E, K, B1 and B6-Carrots are a yummy source of essential minerals that support everything from bone health to cardiovascular health, like Calcium, which keeps bones strong and heart muscle healthy, Phosphorus, which makes skin softer and teeth stronger and Magnesium, which helps you absorb nutrients and improves memory

Promotes gentle cleansing-Carrots are a natural diuretic that promotes detoxification to speed up the flushing out of toxins, which has a positive effect on the skin and helps fatty build-up in the arteries get broken down and cleared out.

And as a natural anti-inflammatory and richly alkaline veggie, carrots help calm our overstressed immune systems and promote the right pH balance in the body.

Our body does require the proper detoxification and relaxation from time to time. The Beach House Goa, has special offers for detox and yoga programs. There is no specific detox type, we just need to analyze the one that best suits our body. Taking care of our body is must. Don’t use your body as a dustbin to dumb the toxins. Start working on it and see the difference!

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