Healthy Chicks

I get a lot of questions about dieting, cleansing and detoxing. While I think it’s important to cleanse your system out once in a while with a planned detox diet, you can incorporate cleansing foods every day of the week, no matter what type of diet you’re following.

Here are some of my favorite cleansing foods. Get ready to stock your fridge and cabinets!

Garlic: Garlic has natural antibiotic properties, making the perfect solution for pesty colds and allergies. Go with fresh garlic, and crush it into your salad dressings, pasta dishes, sauteed veggies and more.

Leafy Greens: Leafy greens like kale, spinach and collards are packed with antioxidants that help cleanse the body of harmful toxins.

Beans and Legumes: These protein-packed babies are loaded with fiber to keep you fuller, longer. They can also aid in lowering cholesterol and maintaining proper blood sugar levels.

Citrus: Lemons, limes and grapefruit boost the immune system with their high content of Vitamin C. They also aid in the detoxification process! Try squeezing fresh juice into your water, or incorporating into your homemade salad dressings.

Seaweed: Seaweed aids in removing toxins from the body like heavy metals. They’re also packed with beneficial minerals.  Snack on dried seaweed sheets, or purchase a blend like Seaweed Gomasio to shake on salads, pastas and stirfrys.

Avocados: Avocados lower your LDL (bad cholesterol) and help aid digestion, making things run smoothly through your system. Slice them up to make a salad with cucumber, lemon and mint or throw into a smoothie for a delicious, creamy texture.

Fresh Herbs: Fresh herbs like dill, oregano and parsley can help rid excess water weight and bloat, while giving your meals an extra kick.

Turmeric: A natural anti-inflammatory, antibiotic and digestive aid. Its exotic flavor will add warmth to your dishes!

Berries: Blueberries, blackberries, blackberries; take your pick! These bright fruits are an antioxidant powerhouse, great for anti-aging, disease prevention and a healthy immune system.

What are your favorite cleansing foods? Have you ever “gone on a cleanse”? If you’d like to kick-start your diet, but need a little help, check out my program options over at Zesty Living.