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