Nutrition and Nourishment

Can you just feel the energy of springtime?  Spring is really nature’s New Year and everything about the season supports us shedding off the old and bringing in the new.  There is a freshness, vitality and renewed desire to make positive changes in our life that mirror the bloom of nature going on outside.

If this past winter of heavy eating and holiday splurges has left you with extra weight, excess congestion, or sluggish energy…look to your diet to help lighten up and clear out the gunk.

Every food has a certain characteristic- some are warming, some are cooling, some are building, some are cleansing. Learning how different foods impact our body gives us an elegant tool when we begin to feel out of sorts or imbalanced.

Whether your goal is to jump start weight loss, feel lighter and cleaner, or regain mental focus and concentration- eating cleansing foods is an excellent way to achieve those goals.

Here are ten foods that naturally detoxify and cleanse our system of excess fat and harmful toxic buildup.

1.  Apples

Apples are high in pectin which bind to cholesterol and heavy metals making it an excellent cleanser for the liver and intestines.

2.  Avocados

Avocados are not often thought of as a cleansing food, but they contain a powerful nutrient called glutathione.  This chemical blocks carcinogens while aiding the liver in detoxifying synthetic chemicals.

3.  Beets

Beets are powerful blood purifiers and liver cleansers.  And don’t forget to use the green tops!  Beet greens are tremendously nourishing and a great source of iron.

4.  Blueberries

The research on blueberries keeps getting more and more amazing.  Blueberries contain an aspirin-like chemical that works against inflammation and an antibiotic-like chemical that blocks harmful bacteria in the urinary tract.   Perhaps most impressive is the berry’s ability to block harmful toxins from crossing the blood-brain barrier.  This delicious fruit is truly a super food!

5.  Cabbage

Cabbage is a winner because of its numerous cancer fighting and antioxidant compounds.  These compounds support the liver in breaking down excess hormones.  Research has shown that cabbage neutralizes the damaging chemicals found in cigarette smoke.  It’s an excellent cleansing food for the digestive tract and liver as well.

6.  Celery

Celery is good for a whole lot more than hamster food!  It is a powerful blood cleanser and contains anti-cancer compounds that detoxify cancer cells from the body.

7.  Cranberry

Well known for it’s support in fighting UITs, cranberry has antibiotic and antiviral substances that remove harmful bacteria and viruses housed in your urinary tract.

8.  Garlic

Fresh garlic (instead of garlic powder) is the way to go for a host of health benefits.  Garlic cleanses bacteria, parasites and viruses from your body, especially in the blood and intestines.   Excellent for shedding the excess congestion of winter, garlic aids the respiratory tract by expelling mucous buildup in the lungs and sinuses.

9.  Kale

Kale (and other dark leafy greens) have incredible anticancer and antioxidant properties, binding to dangerous compounds from cigarette smoke and cleaning the liver.  The high fiber content also cleanses the intestinal tract.

10.  Lemon

Start your day with a warm cup of lemon water.  Lemon is a liver detoxifier and contains a high amount of vitamin C- essential for the production of liver cleansing compounds in your body.

Were you surprised at how many of these foods were ones you already love to eat?

Taking excellent care of yourself isn’t about restriction and denial.  When you use whole foods in your diet you have a delicious, satisfying way to stay healthy and energized!

Read more from the Spring Cleansing Series, here!

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