The Ultimate Detox: The Most Powerful Cleansers
All that food, booze, late nights and partying inevitably takes its toll on our bodies. Come the end of it, we're all gasping for a good clean-out or diet plan, which is why abstaining from alcohol, taking some exercise, eating healthily and adding some of these great detox foods to your diet can really help refresh your regime. Detox itself is the body's natural process of neutralizing or eliminating toxins from the body. Toxins are anything that can potentially harm body tissue and can be produced naturally, ingested through our diet or inhaled from our environment. While our bodies perform the detox process by themselves, it is thought that certain food types and herbs can assist the process, and even help to speed it up. Our view? Healthy eating can never be a bad thing.
iStockOranges
...Oranges – a great option if you find grapefruits a little too sour for your tastes.
Rex FeaturesWheatgrass
A popular ingredient in detox juices and smoothies, wheatgrass is thought to have unique and powerful cleansing abilities thanks to the scores of different vitamins and minerals it contains. Benefits range from flushing out the liver and blood to curing acne and even preventing grey hair.
PA PhotosApples
There are whole diet plans built around the detoxing power of the humble apple. The fibre-rich fruit is full of skin-boosting vitamin E, folic acid and vitamin C, among other natural antioxidants.
Rex FeaturesFennel
This liquorice-flavoured root vegetable is packed with vitamin C, potassium, and manganese to name a few, and has long been used as a remedy for digestive problems and as well as eye and breathing disorders. Thanks in part to its high dietary fibre content, it is also a wonderful detox supplement, promoting healthy digestion, reducing swelling in the body, and flushing out toxins and excess fluids diuretically. It’s great for the hair too, apparently, so pop down to your local health food shop and pick up a box of tea, or nip to the supermarket and grab a root for roasting.
iStockWater
So simple, but oh so effective! In order to help your body rid itself of pesky toxins, it is essential that you drink plenty of fresh, clean water. Water makes up 70% of our bodies, helping not just to keep our brains hydrated and fully functional, but also to replenish water in the cells throughout your body. Be sure to drink your recommended eight glasses of water a day, and remember to drink more if you exercise.
Rex FeaturesPomegranate
Also amazing at fighting off those pesky free radicals – and a lot easier to get hold of, we might add. Each jewel-toned seed contains high levels of antioxidants called ‘flavenoids’, as well as vitamins A, C and E, folic acid and iron, which supports the blood in transporting oxygen around the body. Because of these nutritional benefits, pomegranates are famed for improving skin quality. Can’t get hold of fresh ones? You can buy concentrated pomegranate juice from most health food stores.
iStockGreen Vegetables
There’s a reason why your mum told you to eat your greens as a child – green vegetables like broccoli, brussels sprouts, and leaves like spinach and kale, are not only high in dietary fibre, which aids digestion and therefore the excretion of toxins, but also contain high amounts of vitamins A, C,E, iron, beta carotene and calcium, all of which are essential nutrients, aiding the body’s natural detoxification process. To get the most out of your vegetables, eat them raw in a salad or stir fry them lightly with some of the other ingredients in our top 20.
Rex FeaturesLemon
The lemon detox diet is heralded in celebsville as being one of the most powerful – and simple – body cleanses around. Why? Aside from the fact that each fruit is packed full of vitamin C, lemons are thought to aid the restoration of the body’s acid-alkali balance, keeping your insides at a steady pH. This means that your body is better able to support healthy bacteria and assist the removal of environmental and dietary toxins in the body. Try drinking the juice of one lemon in a mug of hot water as a morning beverage, and see if it makes a difference.
iStockAcai Berries
They might only be tiny, but acai berries are one of the most potent forms of antioxidants in the world – and powerful metabolism boosters. Antioxidants protect the body from the over-production of free radicals – chemicals which can cause damage to proteins, fats, carbohydrates and DNA in the body. Make the most of this amazing ‘super food’ and stock up. Most health food stores sell concentrated acai juices and tablets, just be sure to go for natural products that are free from artificial additives and sugars.
Rex FeaturesGoji Berries
Another berry you’d be wise to pay attention to. The husky red fruits, which can often be found in a dried form in health food shops, are like little bombs of vitamins, iron and beta carotene – a compound which has been linked to aiding the body fight cancer and heart disease. Pick up a bag as a healthy afternoon snack, or sprinkle a handful over your (preferably wholegrain) cereal in the morning for a serious antioxidant boost.
iStockGarlic
It might make your breath smell a bit, but there’s no denying the good garlic will do for your health. Each clove is packed not just with toxin-battling antioxidants, but also a naturally occurring chemical called allicin. When digested, allicin reacts with the blood to create a product capable of killing off many harmful bacteria and viruses that your body may be harbouring. Garlic is also thought to be effective in lowering cholesterol, regulating blood pressure and encouraging a healthy heart. Add a finely chopped raw clove to a salad, or pop into a hot meal towards the end of cooking time to make the most out of it.
iStockFlaxseeds
Just two tablespoons of flaxseed is enough to provide you with over 100% of your daily allowance of omega 3 fatty acids; good fats which, rather than sticking to your waistline, support healthy cell development and promote a healthy heart. The seeds are also packed full of metabolising manganese (a trace mineral used for several vital bodily functions) and dietary fibre, which aids the body’s natural detoxification process by helping digestion. Grab a box from your local health food shop and get sprinkling!
Rex FeaturesBrazil Nuts
All unsalted, unprocessed nuts are good for you, but for detoxing, brazil nuts are definitely worth a look in. They are particularly potent sources of a mineral called selenium, which helps to actively increase the number of infection-fighting white blood cells in the body and strengthens their fighting power. Also packed into those tough brown shells is hair and skin-boosting vitamin E, copper, magnesium, manganese, potassium, calcium and iron – all of which are essential to the body’s healthy functioning, including getting rid of harmful toxins.
iStockMilk Thistle
If there’s anything that takes a bit of a beating over the festive period, it’s our poor livers, which is why during a detox, the addition of milk thistle is often recommended. The liver provides several vital functions, including the removal of harmful toxins from the body. Milk thistle has been shown to have protecting and therapeutic benefits to the liver – it is even suggested that it can improve its function. The better able your liver is to cope with expelling toxins, the stronger your detox. Simple! You can find milk thistle in supplement and tea form in most health food shops.
istockphotoWhite Tea
We’ve all heard of the antioxidant powers of green tea, but when it comes to cleansing, white tea is definitely the pick of the bunch. White tea is made from the young bud of the tea plant, which is when the leaves are at their most potent. The leaves are then dried naturally, helping to preserve their natural properties. As such, white tea is incredibly high in polyphenols, antioxidants used to fight off free radicals in the body and catechins, another group of antioxidants which have been found to reduce cholesterol in the body. Swop out your usual builder’s brew for a cup and see what happens.
Rex FeaturesNettles
They might be a stingy nuisance at the bottom of your garden, but taken in a tea, capsule or soup, nettles are one of the most detoxifying dietary supplements out there. Not only are they packed full of antioxidants, but they also have an anti-inflammatory effect, calming skin complaints like eczema and acne, and aiding digestion. Meanwhile, their diuretic properties help to eliminate urea and other waste products from the body and prevent fluid retention. Did we mention that nettles are particularly high in iron, too? The easiest way to get your fix is to pick up a box of nettle tea from your local health food shop, though nettle soups and capsules are also available.
Rex FeaturesBrown Rice
Swapping out processed white carbs for brown wholegrains is a good move health-wise, whether you’re detoxing or not. But one particular grain just pips others to the post in terms of nutritional value – brown rice. A portion a day provides a rich source of B vitamins, protein, manganese, selenium and magnesium as well as several potent antioxidants which are thought to help protect against disease, as well as boosting the skin’s vitality and supporting healthy body functions. It also contains large amounts of dietary fibre. You should be able to pick up a bag in most supermarkets.
Rex FeaturesWatercress
Next time you fix yourself a salad, try substituting a few of those lettuce leaves for some peppery watercress. The leafy greens are jammed full of nutrients, including vitamin B1, B2, B6, C and E, as well as minerals manganese, carotene and potassium. This makes watercress a powerful cleansing agent, improving the digestion and nourishing the skin, while its diuretic properties help to flush out toxins and excess fluids. Watercress is also a fabulous source of iodine, so if you can’t get hold of seaweed, nip down to your local supermarket and pick up a packet of this instead.
istockphotoTurmeric
There are several detox diet plans that recommend avoiding spices altogether, but can it really be that bad for you? Not if the nutritional benefits of turmeric are anything to go by. The golden spice contains a naturally occurring chemical called curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory and infection-fighting properties, helping to rid your body of unwanted bugs and accelerate toxin removal. The best way to get your fix? Combine some green vegetables, garlic and legumes with a teaspoon or two to make a healthy curry. Serve with brown rice for an extra detox boost.
Rex FeaturesDandelion
No, we’re not suggesting you plod down to the bottom of your garden and start snacking on a few yellow flowers – it’s the root of this plant that stores the most potent nutrients. Like nettle, dandelion is often thought of as a liver tonic. It has diuretic properties, helping to cleanse the body of toxins and flush out excess fluids, and a powerful complex of antioxidant vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, D and D as well as zinc, iron and potassium – a mineral needed for proper kidney function. You can take dandelion root as a supplement, or as a tea. It is available relatively inexpensively at most health food shops.
Rex FeaturesBurdock
Closely related to both dandelion and milk thistle is burdock – a member of the daisy family which has been used for centuries for its healing properties. In particular, it contains high amounts of calcium, potassium and magnesium, all of which promote good liver and kidney function, and healthy skin. With strong antibacterial and antifungal properties, burdock is sometimes used to treat ulcers and other digestive conditions. It is also a diuretic and a diaphoretic, which helps to flush toxins from the body by encouraging excretion. Most good health stores should stock burdock, which can be eaten as a vegetable, taken in tea or supplement form.
Rex FeaturesLegumes
Any healing process is in need of protein and energy, and legumes – peas, beans, and lentils – have both those things in abundance. Protein is essential for repair of damaged tissues in the body, as well as for healthy cell function, and complex carbohydrates release steady amounts of energy throughout the day to fuel the body’s renewal. Legumes also contain a high amount of dietary fibre, which aids the digestion process and assists in the body’s natural detoxification process. Go for dried or canned beans with no added sugars, salts or additives and cook into meals or eat cold with a salad.
Rex FeaturesKale
Wonder food green kale is not only a fabulous source of fibre and folate, but a myriad of detoxing antioxidants, including vitamins A, B6, C, K, as well as beautifying calcium and pH balancing potassium.
istockGrapefruit
As well as its metabolism-boosting properties, grapefruits are thought to rid the body of unwanted toxins thanks to the high levels of vitamin C they contain. As are…
Rex FeaturesOnion
Onions – particularly red and green ones – are packed with sulphur-containing amino acids, which help your body to flush toxins out of your system by making them water soluble. They also contain the building blocks for an essential liver compound called glutathione, which it needs in order to carry out your body’s natural detoxification process.
istockCarrots
Carrot juice is a favourite among detox devotees, because the root vegetables are a full of antioxidant vitamins, minerals and beta carotene. They are particularly good when combined with the cleansing powers of aloe, apple and manuka honey, too.
iStockArtichoke
A member of the thistle family, the artichoke is commonly thought of as a natural liver tonic thanks to active ingredients including cynarin, fatty acids, enzymes and vitamins.
istockCabbage
Ever heard of the Cabbage Soup Detox Diet? Cabbage is heralded for its powerful cleansing and metabolising properties, thanks to its potent balance of sulphur, vitamin C and iodine.
istockphotoBrussels Sprouts
They look like tiny cabbages, and they’re similar in nutritional value, too. Not just for Christmas, Brussels Sprouts are loaded with vitamin A, potassium and calcium, as well as damage-repairing protein.
iStockBeetroot
Beetroot commonly features in detox diets, and not without good reason. They are packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, including betacyanin – the pigment that gives beetroot its deep ruby colour.
Rex FeaturesPumpkin Seeds
Tossing a few pumpkin seeds onto a salad or into a bowl of cereal is an easy way to up the detoxing power of your food. As well as protein and skin-boosting zinc, pumpkin seeds are packed with manganese, magnesium and phosphorus.
istockphotoAlmonds
If you’re feeling sluggish after a heavy season of partying and overindulgence, then almonds are a great go-to snack. Just 70g of these super kernels contains your Recommended Daily Allowance of anti-oxidising vitamin E as well as riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6, and folates. Not forgetting minerals such as manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and selenium.
iStockWalnuts
Walnuts contain several detoxing substances too, such as melatonin, ellagic acid, vitamin E and other antioxidants.
Rex FeaturesParsley
Eat the garnish! The high levels of vitamin A, beta-carotene, vitamin C and K parsley contains make it an excellent cleanser and a great anti-inflammatory for the kidneys and bladder, too.
iStockSesame seeds
Sesame seed oil has long been used in remedies for its nourishing and curing properties. Each tiny husk contains scores of detoxing phyto-nutrients, flavonoid antioxidants, vitamins and fibre.
iStockCinnamon
Metabolism-boosting cinnamon is great for stimulating the body’s natural detoxification process because of the high levels of antioxidant, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties it contains. Sprinkle on cereal or drink in tea to reap the benefits.
Rex FeaturesAvocado
As well as detoxing antioxidants, avocado is also very high in both insoluble and soluble fibre. This helps to cleanse the colon and carry toxins out of the body.
Rex FeaturesChillies
Chillies are packed with antioxidants, particularly vitamin C, of which it contains the highest amount out of all the food groups. They’re great for boosting your metabolism, too, and speeding along the detoxing process.
Rex FeaturesManuka Honey
Manuka honey boasts one of the highest levels of antioxidants on the planet. Add a spoon to a fresh lemon and ginger tea, or eat alone for serious detoxifying benefits.
istockLemongrass
Often used in south east Asian dishes, lemongrass is a great detoxifying ingredient to keep handy. Add to clear soups and green tea for an added antioxidant boost.
Rex FeaturesAsparagus
Asparagus is a diuretic, and can help your body get rid of unwanted toxins faster. It is also great at reducing bloating and inflammation in the digestive system, so get steaming for a flatter tummy in a flash.
Rex FeaturesGinger
If you’re feeling a bit run down, ginger is a great remedy. It is anti-inflammatory, can help to boost your metabolism and speed up your body’s natural detoxification process.
istockPapaya
Not only does papaya contain a mammoth 300% of your Recommended Daily Allowance of vitamin C, but it also boasts natural enzymes that promote healthy digestion.
Rex FeaturesBasil
Don’t reserve basil for hearty Italian dishes alone. The herb is packed with antioxidants to flush out unwanted toxins.
istockPro-Biotic Yoghurt
Eating natural, pro-biotic yoghurt for your breakfast with some of the fruits and nuts listed here is one of the best ways to battle the bloat. It contains natural bacteria which promotes healthy digestive function.
istockQuinoa
Try swapping out pasta and white rice for a super grain like quinoa instead. Its packed full of energising B-vitamins and healing protein, as well as complex, long-lasting carbs.
istockSeaweed
Help speed up the detoxing process by working a little seaweed into your diet. The Japanese delicacy is rich in metabolism-boosting iodine, among other things. Don’t like the taste? Pick up kelp tablets at your local health food store instead.
istockBean Sprouts
Bean sprouts are good all-round health boosters as they are extremely low in calories, but contain a full set of vitamins (A, B, C, D, E and K), as well as essential folic acid, iron, calcium, magnesium and zinc. These elements combined can improve overall health and vitality, and help you keep your energy levels up for longer.
Rex FeaturesGreen Tea
The Chinese have raved about the health benefits of green tea for centuries, and, hundreds of years later, it turns out they were spot on: the refreshing beverage is abnormally high in antioxidants. “Antioxidants protect the body from over-production of free radicals, which cause damage to proteins, fats, carbohydrates and DNA in the body,” says Dr Elisabeth Weichselbaum, an expert from the British Nutrition Foundation. Pick up a box from your supermarket and reap the benefits.
iStockPineapple
Tropical fruits like pineapple are rich in antioxidant vitamins B and C, as well as essential detoxing minerals such as copper and manganese.
