Detoxing with Food

Starting the year out with a detox is a great idea!

There are several types or methods of detoxing.  I'm not brave or strong enough to go without food {I get shaky, grumpy and sick.  My husband calls this "feeding time".  =)} like some methods call for, so this is what I'm doing:

We bought an herbal "whole body cleanse".  We take 2 pills every morning to cleanse our skin, blood, liver, kidneys and lungs.  Then we take 2 more pills in the evening to clean out our colons.

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We are allowed to eat while on this detox, so here are the foods we're trying to eat a lot of and why:

Water - water is one of the most crucial parts of the detox!  You should drink so much extra water that you are using the bathroom at least once an hour.

Watercress - cleanses free radicals from the kidneys and helps to energize enzymes in the liver

Lemon Water - should be drank (is that a word?) within 10 or 15 minuets of slicing the lemon open as it will lose some of it's nutritional value after a while.  Lemon Water is a great source of vitamin C which helps the body detox and burn fat.  A glass of Lemon Water every day will help to alkalize the body.

Dark leafy greens -   raw,  sauted, or in broth, leafy greens are a great help in riding the body of environmental toxins and herbicides.

Cabbage & Brussels Sprouts - cleans the liver. 

Artichokes - Good for the liver and the gallbladder.  Artichokes are one of the best foods you can eat while detoxing!

Beets -  Beet fiber will help increase the antioxidant enzymes in the liver, which helps the liver eliminate bile and other toxins.

Red Onion, red grapes, and legumes are all great food to eat while detoxing!! They clean out the gut including parasites.

Green Tea - speeds up liver activity and increases the enzymes that help detox the body.

Olive Oil - A "shot" of olive oil every day will jump start your liver and get it going properly

Quick Tip - Be sure to allow 12 hours between dinner and breakfast. This provides your body with time to rest from digesting food and work on healing it's self.    Herbal laxitives are available if you should decide to use them.  A bowel movement every day is a must!  The idea is to get all of that out of your body.

Other helpful activities - work outs, massages or "skin brushing", a few moments in a sauna, and working out all help to eliminate toxins from the body

Olive Oil - Take a shot of olive oil every night to stimulate the liver, and help with the detoxification process

Spices that detox:

Garlic - detoxes the liver

Ginger -warming spice that promotes digestion and cleansing and works wonders on stomach ailments

Cinnamon -  Aids in digestion. Also kills bacteria and fungi. It acts as a pain reliever as wells as strengthens and energizes tissue. Slows the rate of sugar or carbohydrate absorption, which reduces the spike in blood sugar.

Turmeric - an excellent blood purifier and improves liver function. Assists in the digestion of proteins and carbohydrates when mixed with coriander and cumin.  Also improves brain function.

Cayenne Pepper { Paprika is the mildest form} - clears congestion, fights inflammation, aids in digestion, cleanse the large intestine and sweat glands, kill worms and parasites, and boost immunity. Increases the metabolism for up to 20 minutes after eating which helps if you're trying to lose weight along with your cleanse.

Cilantro {or coriander} - Has many health benefits including cleaning mercury and other heavy metals from your body.  It also helps with high cholesterol, contains iron, magnesium,  folic-acid, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin-A, beta carotene, vitamin-C, vitamin K, and other antioxidant flavinoids.  You can't go wrong by eating this spice!  I put it in salsa, fried chicken, and sauteed veggies!  

So many things to chose from and they're all so tasty!  We have a wonderful God that gives us only the very best!

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