Search the internet and you’ll find a whole range of ways to “cleanse” your body. This new fad has taken the world by storm and nearly every health freak has tried a variation of the master cleanse. It usually requires drinking and eating a variety of different items such as honey, salt water, vinegar and hot peppers. Most cleanses last a week and some only allow you to drink herb infused water.
Even though modern science has negated any therapeutic value of these procedures, yet nobody can refute the cleansing qualities of some of the fruits and vegetables that are freely available. Not only are they more appetizing but are also more filling (less hunger pangs).
Here we have compiled all those delicious foods that are naturally detoxifying and help in weight loss.
1. Bananas
No matter how many hours you put in the gym, bloating can take that all away within minutes. The answer for every beachbody enthusiast is a BANANA. Eating the fruit before every meal reduces belly bloating, thanks to its bloat fighting bacteria and its healthy dose of potassium.
2. Hibiscus Tea
Hibiscus tea is known to help lose all the water weight you’ve packed on by consuming high salt content foods. One common mistake that everyone makes is that we drink soups and similar drinks, thinking they’re just water and will help us lose weight. Instead these soups cause us to have a bloated belly because of their high salt content which cause water retention in the body.
Drinking hibiscus tea helps you lose all the extra weight you’ve gained from drinking or eating salty foods. Hibiscus tea contains flavonoids that alter the production of aldosterone- the hormone that controls salt and water removal from the body.
3. Guacamole
Guacamole contains many beneficial herbs and fruits. Avocado is highly effective at minimising liver damage due to toxins. Cilantro, the star herb in guacamole, is one of the most potent stomach settlers and those who regularly suffer from an upset stomach can reap its benefits the most.
Cilantro is a herb that can also help those who suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, as it contains such chemicals that are extremely powerful digestive system relaxers. When all else fails, herbs and spices rise to the challenge.
4. White Tea
Tea is well known to help in weight loss and help reduce the fat around your belly. Although all teas are good at this, white tea has an edge over all others as it can destroy fat and even block further production. This particular information was published in a study in the journal Nutrition and Metabolism.
White tea contains caffeine and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) that destroys fat and helps you in getting that perfect figure.
5. Turmeric
The best anti inflammatory agent around is the bright color spice, turmeric. Known to have many beneficial properties, turmeric is a widely acknowledged anti inflammatory agent that could work wonders in your body. A study published in a renowned magazine stated that turmeric consumption reduces bile duct blockage and reduce scarring as it interferes with the inflammatory process.
6. Asparagus
Asparagus has many mystical properties; the least known of is that it can actually help alleviate hangover symptoms. According to a study published in Journal of Food Science, the chemicals in asparagus protects the liver against toxins and help beat the dreaded hangover after a night of partying.
Asparagus is also a natural diuretic and can help flush out excess chemicals from your body.
7. Collard Greens
A basic necessity of all thing southern as collard greens, with all the fried food they eat you’d think every one of them might be about to have a heart attack but their secret ingredient keeps all the cholesterol in check.
A recent study compared the natural capabilities of collard greens with a cholesterol lowering drug, Cholestyramine, and the result was shocking, the collards improved the cholesterol blocking process by 13%.
8. Lemon Water
The perfect start of a day is by making a pitcher of water filled with sliced fruits, preferably lemons. The lemon peels are rich in antioxidants and detoxification enzymes that break down all the calories you might gain in a day. Make a point of drinking at least 8-10 glasses each day,
9. Wild Salmon
Nature contains some of the best gifts God has given to mankind. Food experts have deduced that a healthy diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids ( with anti inflammatory properties) may then help to revert back arteries to their normal supple form. Arterial stiffness—seen more in smokers, stops blood from flowing freely and washing out toxins from your body.
A diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids can help reduce this common side effect of aging. Healthy blood flow can be achieved by eating a diet rich in salmon, which contains high amount of omega 3 fatty acids. Easily available, salmon will help get your arteries back to optimum elasticity and bring back your stamina and vigour.
10. Beets
For those party animals who love going on pub crawls-beware, your liver may be working double time. Liver is the main center where your body detox happens and your liver may need a push to work at its best. For this particular action we recommend beets- rich in betalains that help repair liver cells and revert back the liver damage. Beets could get you back in party mood and give new life to your over worked liver.
11. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are the best food for good skin as they can give your skin a happy, healthy glow by washing out harmful toxins in your body. They are also naturally rich in carotenoids that give it its natural orange colour. Don’t worry you won’t become an orange, sweet potatoes will give you the perfect peaches and cream complexion you’ve always wanted.
12. Mustard
Mustard is everyone’s favourite food topping, its strong taste a good combination with a variety of foods. One of the lesser known properties of mustard is its metabolism boosting powers – a mere teaspoon can boost your metabolism by upto 25% for several hours.
Make sure you eat it with a healthy snack- preferably proteins. So tuck into a chicken sandwich with lots of mustard- now that’s what we call healthy weight loss.
13. Spinach
Rick in thylakoids, spinach is a true appetite suppressor. Not only is spinach low calorie power food but it’s also rich in many vitamins and minerals we require daily. Just adding soke to your daily salad could help you achieve optimum health within days.
There are several ways to get the best out of spinach- put some in your omelette or add a leaf in your sandwich.
14. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are colorful fruits that can not only brighten up a dull salad but are also rich in antioxidants. An excellent power source for healthy skin from the inside, tomatoes are a super food hidden in your fridge.
Add some tomatoes to your sandwich or make a soup out of them, either way, the savoury taste is one of a kind.
15. Kiwi
If you have a bit of a belly but don’t consume as much calories as it would take, the reason might be constipation. Adding fiber to your diet may be helpful, but you can get that easily in the form of a kiwi! Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) who ate two kiwis a day for a month had less constipation and a general lessening of IBS symptoms than those who didn’t in a study conducted by researchers in Pacific Asia.
Kiwi can be taken in many ways, make a smoothie out of it, give a kick to your bland oatmeal or eat it as a whole, it’ll be healthy for you and the answer your bowel has been looking for ages.
16. Cold Potatoes
Potatoes are a gift from god Himself. It can be eaten in a million ways and it is possibly the most loved vegetables among kids and adults alike. But, if you mostly eat your potatoes warm then you’re missing out on all the health benefits it has to offer.
When potatoes are cooked then cooled their digestible starch turns into resistant starch which is harder to digest. This invites all the fat into your body more than you were asking for. With the versatility of potatoes it can be used in salads, simply bake potatoes in the oven, and after it’s cooled dress them up with appetizing ingredients like dill, green onions, mustard and greek yogurt as it’s probiotics banish bloat as fast as you can say YUM!
17. Almonds
Almonds are a rich source of vitamin E. Vitamin E is good for your skin and nails and holds an important role in keeping your body free from toxins. A study concluded that those who consumed vitamin E were at lesser risk to develop liver cancer than those who did not. So that handful of almonds that you keep in your bag is actually saving you from cancer. Almonds are like little heros, don’t judge them by their size.
18. Artichoke
Adding an artichoke to your dinner is the quickest way to lose weight. Rich in fibre, artichoke quickly cleans up your digestive system and gets those bowels moving to kick out all the gunk. Your pants will start to feel looser and you’ll be dropping dress sizes before you know it.
19. Legumes
Adding legumes to your diet can actually help you lose weight fast, even if it tends to give you gas. Chick peas , peas and lentils are a healthy addition to your daily diet and are rich in fibre as well as being low calorie. So go out and get some from your nearest grocery store.
20. Oats
Oats are a healthy source of fibre. One study showed that it could be a good way to lose weight quickly of taken regularly in the morning.
Oats are rich in the anti-inflammatory compounds avenanthramide and beta-glucan which help prevent against obesity associated health problems including cardiac diseases and diabetes mellitus.
21. Blackberries
A single cup of 144 grams of blackberries Contains 7.6 grams of fibre. Besides this, black berries are also rich in vitamin C. These little devils pack a huge punch and cause your body to produce butyrate which is an acid which helps reduces fat in our bodies. In a canadian study,researchers found that these contain a large amount of ghrelin:
A hormone that decreases hunger and helps you lay of your cravings during your diets. Use these recipes for making flavorful meals that help you stay slim and healthy.
22. Sunflower Seeds
If you hate having to eat almonds. Sunflower seeds are a healthy and delicious substitute. A 1/4 cup of sunflower seeds has just 300 calories and contains 3 grams of fiber.
Sunflower seeds also have the quality of being healthy and delicious. These contain a large amount of magnesium: a mineral that helps keep blood pressure under check and boosts a process called lipolysis, in which our body releases its fat stores and makes you slim and smart.Try using these with oatmeal and salads for the extra crunch and flavour.
23. Detox Waters
It’s time to bring back all those pinterest posts you have pinned to your dash because there’s a new, healthy drink in town: Detox water. All the celebrities and trainers are endorsing it as it gives all the detoxifying properties of fruit yet it doesn’t add the water weight that even a hardcore workout session can’t tame.
24. Grapefruit
The simplest way to lose a few quick pounds and clean your digestive system from all the junk you’ve accumulated over the holidays is… you guessed it! Grapefruit!
Instead of starving yourself to lose weight, simply cut yourself some grapefruit before every meal. Not only will this help you eat less but it will also help cleanse your bowels. This tactic can help you reduce your waist size by upto an inch in just six weeks according to a study published in a reputed journal.
Scientist attribute these qualities to grapefruits very own phytochemicals. Another study conducted by the Japanese claims that just the smell of grapefruit can turn on brown fat cells that help in burning fat as well as reduce your appetite.
25. Cocoa Powder
If you’re on a diet but can’t wait for those cheat days where you can munch on all the chocolates you can get your hands on then here is the answer for you: cocoa powder, a great substitute for all the fibre in your diet and it tastes great as well!
2 tablespoons of cocoa powder mixed with hot water is jam packed with 4 grams of fibre, we prefer Rapunzel organic cocoa powder as it still has the health benefits intact, now you won’t feel guilty about all those cheat days in your health calendar.
Even though it seems a foreign concept when someone tells you to lose weight and the extra gunk on your system by hitting the grocery store instead of the gym, it might actually help you in the long run. Weight loss should always be healthy and dealt with in a safe way instead of crash diets and master cleanses that not only zap you of your energy but hit your metabolism hard. These superfoods mentioned above are all proven to give your body a well needed detox and also have many extra added benefits, some of which man hasn’t even discovered yet. So get your grocery cart ready and start shopping!
