| To illustrate how important the quality of | | | | multitude of garlic supplements in the health |
| the food you ingest on a daily basis is, just | | | | food shops to choose from |
| imagine your body as a perfect engine (Which | | | | |
| it is!) food is the fuel you feed it to | | | | Coriander (Cilantro) |
| enable it to achieve peak performance. The | | | | |
| cleaner and purer the fuel, the better and | | | | Some studies have shown that the leaves of |
| smoother the engine's performance. Makes | | | | the coriander plant can accelerate the |
| sense, doesn't it? | | | | excretion of mercury, lead and aluminium from |
| | | | the body. |
| In the same way that some foods slow our body | | | | |
| engine down, creating deposits which | | | | This delicious herb, when added to food, can |
| interfere with the smooth running of the | | | | greatly contribute in the detox process. It |
| various parts. Other foods we eat can | | | | is available all year round. |
| actually act as "engine cleaners and | | | | |
| boosters" these are the ones we call detox | | | | You can use it instead of basil to make a |
| foods. Fortunately, they are abundantly | | | | delicious coriander pesto. |
| available in nature, and anyone can have | | | | |
| access to them. | | | | Mix fresh coriander leaves (about 25 stems) |
| | | | with 1/2 a cup of pine nuts, 1 clove of |
| New discoveries are being made every day on | | | | garlic, 2 tablespoons of lemon and 5 |
| previously unknown properties and benefits | | | | tablespoons of olive oil in a blender until |
| some of our common foods possess. However, | | | | you get a smooth paste (you can make the |
| the ones we're listing in this article have | | | | paste less lumpy by adding hot water). It's |
| undeniably proven their positive role in | | | | very tasty with pasta or as an accompaniment |
| cleansing our engine and boosting its power. | | | | to vegetables or fish. |
| | | | |
| Why detox? | | | | Other detoxifying roots and herbs include: |
| | | | |
| Toxin build-up has become more of a concern | | | | Echinacea |
| in the twenty first century than ever before. | | | | |
| Industrial and technological progress has | | | | A lymphatic cleanser |
| resulted in many new and stronger chemicals, | | | | |
| air and water pollution, radiation and | | | | Dandelion root: A tonic, a liver and blood |
| nuclear contamination. Due to medical | | | | cleanser, diuretic and filters toxins |
| advancement we are using more drugs that | | | | |
| promise to rid us of our various day-to-day | | | | Cayenne pepper: Purifies the blood, increases |
| ailments. We eat a higher percentage of | | | | fluid elimination and encourages sweating |
| refined foods, and stress is leading us to | | | | |
| abuse our bodies with stimulants or | | | | Ginger root |
| sedatives. | | | | |
| | | | Stimulates blood circulation and sweating |
| Two of the main toxicity diseases are cancer | | | | |
| and cardiovascular disease and they are | | | | Liquorice root: Is a potent detoxifier it |
| happening to an alarmingly higher percentage | | | | also balances biochemical functions and acts |
| of the population today. Others include | | | | as a mild laxative |
| arthritis, allergies, obesity, and many skin | | | | |
| problems. Many common symptoms, such as | | | | Parsley leaf |
| headaches, fatigue, muscular pain, cough, | | | | |
| gastrointestinal problems and immune system | | | | A diuretic it flushes the kidneys |
| weakness, can all be attributed to toxic | | | | |
| overload. | | | | Red clover blossoms: A blood cleanser that's |
| | | | very useful during convalescence and |
| Accumulated toxins in the body range from | | | | recovery. |
| undigested organic matter, to metallic | | | | |
| deposits such as lead, mercury, copper and | | | | Fresh Vegetables |
| aluminium we ingest through food and air. | | | | |
| Environmental toxins, as well as those | | | | Great detox vegetables include broccoli, |
| emitted by household furnishings accumulate | | | | cauliflower, broccoli sprouts and onions. |
| in our body. Free radicals are also | | | | Artichokes are well known for their liver |
| considered biochemical toxins and stress | | | | detoxifying properties. Also recommended are |
| causes great toxicity in the body. | | | | beetroot and red and green vegetables. |
| | | | |
| One thing is certain we are all in contact | | | | Fresh Fruits |
| with toxins on a daily basis. | | | | |
| | | | All fresh fruit is good for detox provided it |
| Fortunately, nature seems to have an answer | | | | is eaten on its own, not before, with, or |
| to this problem, it comes in the form of | | | | after food. A fresh fruit or fruits juice |
| food. | | | | fasting is often recommended for a short |
| | | | (3-day) fast to cleanse and detoxify. |
| Detox Foods | | | | |
| | | | Fruit can be fresh, frozen or dried. It |
| Garlic | | | | includes apples, pears, oranges, grapefruit, |
| | | | bananas, raisins, pineapple, mango, kiwi |
| Garlic has been used for its beneficial | | | | fruit, raspberries, strawberries, black |
| effects for thousands of years. It is a blood | | | | currants, melon, sultanas, nectarines and |
| cleanser, a natural antibiotic it also | | | | peaches. |
| reduces blood fats thinning the blood and | | | | |
| lowering blood pressure. | | | | Summary |
| | | | |
| To avoid the lingering smell when you eat raw | | | | Detoxifying is an important factor for |
| garlic, simply peel the garlic clove, cut it | | | | maintaining optimal health. Some commons |
| lengthways and remove the heart (which is | | | | foods are known to aid detoxification and |
| sometimes green). If you prefer to avoid the | | | | support the body's elimination process. |
| smell of garlic altogether, there is a | | | | |