1. Fruits
The health benefits of fruits guarantee you optimum health and a well-built body in the long run. Fruits benefit your body immensely as they are natural sources of vitamins and minerals, which are essential for the proper functioning of the body. Rich in dietary fiber, fruits also help to improve the functioning of the digestive tract. Fruits are an important part of a healthy diet for those who want to lose weight; they give ample energy and nearly every nutrient that your body needs to curb weight gain, without adding any unnecessary fats.
Moreover, fruits help you to stay away from health complications like heat stroke, high blood pressure, cancer, heart ailments, and diabetes. Fruits effectively fight skin disorders and promote healthy hair growth. It is always suggested to eat raw, fresh and ripe fruits because then you experience the real health benefits, rather than consuming them after processing or cooking. Fruits are high in liquid-content which helps the body wash out toxins. They are also very easy to digest and are high in antioxidants, nutrients, fiber, and important vitamins.
Almost all fruits have immense nutritional value, but obviously the type and quantity of nutrients vary between types. As the composition changes with each fruit, the health benefits also change with them. The beneficial powers of common fruits are discussed below.
Apples: A good example of a complete healthy fruit is the apple; it helps in digestion, strengthens bones, provides relief from asthma, lowers blood cholesterol, prevents cancer and helps in reducing weight. Read more
Pears: Another beneficial fruit is the pear, which is a good source of fiber, vitamin C, B2, E, copper and potassium. Pears are an excellent source of pectin and fiber that effectively lowers cholesterol levels. It is mostly prescribed for infants as it is believed to be a hypoallergenic fruit that is completely safe for young children to ingest.
Grapes: Grapes are also a common fruit that can be easily included in your regular diet. Grapes alleviate indigestion, constipation, fatigue, kidney disorders and eye problems. It is rich in several vitamins and also possesses minerals like calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and selenium. Read more
Berries: Blueberries, cherries, and blackberries prevent cancer and keep your heart protected. If you include cherries or cherry juice in your diet, you can eliminate the associated pain from arthritis, gout and joint inflammation. Berries have the capability of curing arthritis naturally. Blueberries with high silicon content aid in the functioning of the pancreas and is good for diabetic conditions. Blackberries can naturally control diarrhea and form new blood cells, but it can also have the adverse reaction of promoting constipation. If you mix blackberries with cherries or prune juice, it will not eliminate that constipation. High sodium and potassium content in gooseberries and huckleberries protect the liver and the intestinal tract.
Zucchini: This fruit provides relief from asthma. Owing to its Vitamin C content, it is a powerful antioxidant, and also has anti-inflammatory properties. Zucchini is mostly known and widely used for weight loss
Mangoes and Papayas: Mangoes and papayas are rich in beta carotene. Papayas act as powerful antioxidants with an abundance of vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin D and vitamin A that all aid in the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. This prevents the formation of dangerous plaque that can result in atherosclerosis, heart attacks, or strokes. You get good amounts of vitamin C from papayas, oranges, guavas and Indian gooseberries.
Tomatoes: You might be surprised to know that tomatoes are actually fruits and not vegetables, although we typically consider it as one of the latter. Tomatoes have a high vitamin content and they are an excellentblood cleanser.
Citrus Fruits: Fruits rich in vitamin-C like oranges, limes, lemons, and grapefruits are excellent for youroverall health. Oranges are consumed widely for healthy skin, teeth, gums, and to keep the lymphatic system healthy. Lemon, the bitter yellow fruit, has been used for for vision issues for thousands of years and it also treats disorders ranging from common colds to epilepsy. Lemon juice helps people lose weight as well. Grapefruit lowers cholesterol and has antioxidant properties. Limes help prevent disorders like scurvy, piles, and gout, as well as respiratory and urinary disorders.
Dry fruits: Dry fruits like figs, dates, apricots and raisins are extremely beneficial for your health. Apart from being excellent laxatives, apricots are a great natural remedy for anemic conditions. Figs include potassium, the essential mineral that helps in controlling blood pressure. Raisins effectively treat anemia, acidosis, fever, and sexual weakness. It helps you to gain weight, promotes eye, teeth and bone health. Dates have abundant fiber that helps to prevent constipation.
2. Green Foods
Fill your refrigerator with blue green algae, barley, wheatgrass, kale, spinach, spirulina, alfalfa, chard, arugula, or other organic leafy greens. These plants will help give a chlorophyll-boost to your digestive tract.
Chlorophyll rids the body of harmful environmental toxins from toxic metals, herbicides, cleaning products andpesticides. They also aid the liver in detoxification.
Studies have also shown the antioxidant-rich chlorella to help reduce high blood pressure, lower LDL or “bad” cholesterol, accelerate wound healing, improve general immune functions, and help with colitis and fibromyalgia.
There are other nutritional benefits of green foods, as well. They have been shown to support cellular metabolism, and because they are naturally alkaline, they help to neutralize excess acidity which is a common problem with the standard American diet.
Aesthetically, green foods provide benefits such as better looking skin, hair and nails. Some research suggests that green foods can even delay the natural effects of aging.
Although the last decade has seen a lot of green foods supplements enter into the market, we have found certain criteria that we feel are very important in making an educated decision when choosing a greens product.
First and foremost, the product should be organic if possible. Also, excessive heat can degrade a product, so it is important to get your greens in a raw or un-processed state. Many people may also wish to choose a formula that is vegetarian. This may be difficult to find, since some manufacturers use spirulina that is actually fed animal products. Lastly, watch out for products made with fillers and binders. These things have nothing to do with greens and are often used because they are less expensive. Fillers include such things as flax meal, apple pectin fiber, soy lecithin, and rice bran.
Another notable benefit of green foods has to do with digestion. When taken regularly, they have been shown to improve the way in which we process all the foods we eat. Good digestion and absorption of nutrients is necessary in order for nutrients to be absorbed into our blood stream and then delivered to our cells. This is key in achieving optimum health. The digestive enzymes and other nutrients often found in green foods help this process by increasing regularity and keeping our digestive tract operating efficiently.
Optimum health involves providing our bodies with the best possible nutrients for maintaining cellular wellness and function. Greens products should be part of everyone’s foundation for good health, and come in a variety of sources for multiple use. They can be mixed with juices, water, or blended into a smoothie with other things such as apples, bananas, berries, and/or protein powders for a complete meal replacement.
Chlorophyll rids the body of harmful environmental toxins from toxic metals, herbicides, cleaning products andpesticides. They also aid the liver in detoxification.
Studies have also shown the antioxidant-rich chlorella to help reduce high blood pressure, lower LDL or “bad” cholesterol, accelerate wound healing, improve general immune functions, and help with colitis and fibromyalgia.
There are other nutritional benefits of green foods, as well. They have been shown to support cellular metabolism, and because they are naturally alkaline, they help to neutralize excess acidity which is a common problem with the standard American diet.
Aesthetically, green foods provide benefits such as better looking skin, hair and nails. Some research suggests that green foods can even delay the natural effects of aging.
Although the last decade has seen a lot of green foods supplements enter into the market, we have found certain criteria that we feel are very important in making an educated decision when choosing a greens product.
First and foremost, the product should be organic if possible. Also, excessive heat can degrade a product, so it is important to get your greens in a raw or un-processed state. Many people may also wish to choose a formula that is vegetarian. This may be difficult to find, since some manufacturers use spirulina that is actually fed animal products. Lastly, watch out for products made with fillers and binders. These things have nothing to do with greens and are often used because they are less expensive. Fillers include such things as flax meal, apple pectin fiber, soy lecithin, and rice bran.
Another notable benefit of green foods has to do with digestion. When taken regularly, they have been shown to improve the way in which we process all the foods we eat. Good digestion and absorption of nutrients is necessary in order for nutrients to be absorbed into our blood stream and then delivered to our cells. This is key in achieving optimum health. The digestive enzymes and other nutrients often found in green foods help this process by increasing regularity and keeping our digestive tract operating efficiently.
Optimum health involves providing our bodies with the best possible nutrients for maintaining cellular wellness and function. Greens products should be part of everyone’s foundation for good health, and come in a variety of sources for multiple use. They can be mixed with juices, water, or blended into a smoothie with other things such as apples, bananas, berries, and/or protein powders for a complete meal replacement.
3. Omega-3 Oils
Omega-3 comes from both animal and plant sources, most notably from krill oil and fish oil. Use hemp, avocado, olive, or flax seed oil while detoxing. This will help lubricate the intestinal walls, allowing the toxins to be absorbed by the oil, and eliminated by the body. The main sources of omega-6 fats are vegetable oils such as corn oil and soy oil that contain a high proportion of linoleic acid. Omega-3 fats are found in flaxseed oil, walnut oil, and marine plankton and fatty fish. Omega-3 benefits cover many areas of health, from mental and behavioral health to preventing premature death from disease, including: coronary heart disease, essential fatty acid deficiency in infancy (retinal and brain development), Parkinson's disease, ADHDA, autoimmune disorders, e.g. lupus and nephropathy, osteoporosis, Crohn's disease, cancers of the breast, colon, and prostate, rheumatoid arthritis.
Studies have also shown that omega-3 fats are anti-arrhythmic (preventing or counteracting cardiac arrhythmia), anti-thrombotic (prevents thrombosis or a blood clot within a blood vessel), anti-atherosclerotic (preventing fatty deposits and fibrosis of the inner layer of your arteries), and anti-inflammatory (counteracting inflammation – the heat, pain, swelling, etc). American medical researchers reported that men who consumed fish once or more every week had a 50 percent lower risk of dying from a sudden cardiac event than do men who eat fish less than once a month.
Studies have also shown that omega-3 fats are anti-arrhythmic (preventing or counteracting cardiac arrhythmia), anti-thrombotic (prevents thrombosis or a blood clot within a blood vessel), anti-atherosclerotic (preventing fatty deposits and fibrosis of the inner layer of your arteries), and anti-inflammatory (counteracting inflammation – the heat, pain, swelling, etc). American medical researchers reported that men who consumed fish once or more every week had a 50 percent lower risk of dying from a sudden cardiac event than do men who eat fish less than once a month.
4. Turmeric
Turmeric, an orange-colored spice imported from India, is part the ginger family and has been a staple in Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian cooking for thousands of years. This is an herb that usually shows up as a tea, and it has specifically been studied in relation to the effect that it has on the liver. It’s said that you can do a detox using just turmeric tea, and drinking it for a week straight along with a healthy diet. In addition, ayurvedic and Chinese medicines utilize turmeric to clear infections and inflammations on the inside and outside of the body. But beyond the holistic health community, Western medical practitioners have only recently come on board in recognizing the benefits of turmeric.
If you are simply looking for a way to start adding detoxifying foods to your diet, it would be good to keep this on hand and to substitute it for another beverage to reap its healthy benefits. Turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory, it inhibits the growth of new blood vessels in tumours and it's a powerful antioxidant.
If you are simply looking for a way to start adding detoxifying foods to your diet, it would be good to keep this on hand and to substitute it for another beverage to reap its healthy benefits. Turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory, it inhibits the growth of new blood vessels in tumours and it's a powerful antioxidant.
5. Water
Water is often overlooked but is so important for all of your organs, and for flushing toxins out of your body. If you’re exercising and taking saunas to help release the toxins it becomes even more important to stay hydrated.
If you’re not used to drinking water daily, be sure to only increase your intake by one cup at a time so you don’t overload yourself. Your kidneys won’t know what to do if they’re not used to getting water and then get a ton of it.
If you’re not used to drinking water daily, be sure to only increase your intake by one cup at a time so you don’t overload yourself. Your kidneys won’t know what to do if they’re not used to getting water and then get a ton of it.
6. Lemons, Oranges and Limes
Citrus fruit aids the body by flushing out toxins and jump-starting the digestive tract with enzymatic processes. Lemon juice supports the liver in its cleansing processes. To increase detoxification, start each morning with a warm glass of lemon water. Remember, vitamin C is one of the best detox vitamins around, as it transforms toxins into digestible material. Eat vitamin c foods often to help get more of these benefits. Citrus fruits as a whole are packed with beneficial antioxidants and essential nutrients that can promote heart health and maybe even reduce the risk of some chronic diseases. Studies have also shown that these fiber-rich foods (especially grapefruit) might even control appetite and aid in weight loss. No doubt, that’s a powerful combination…especially for such a low-cal food.Citrus isn’t just available all year round, but it also tastes great in winter, when other fruits lack flavor. So when you’re at the grocery store, simply look for fruit that’s firm and heavy, with a bright and colorful skin—and avoid those that have bruising or wrinkling.