11 foods for a spring detox

Green tea

Swap your daily cups of black tea for the healing properties of green tea.

Green tea contains substances known as catechins, which boost the production of a group of enzymes thought to be crucial to the body’s defence against cancer-causing chemicals and other toxins.

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Brassica vegetables

Phase II detoxification in the liver involves making toxic substances water soluble so they can be passed out of the body and cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli and Brussels sprouts contain some good stuff, known as sulforaphane, to help this process along.

Try and choose organic vegetables whenever possible to reduce the amount of toxins getting into your body in the first place.

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Pomegranates

Pomegranates contain an abundance of an antioxidant known as punicalagin, which not only helps the liver detoxify unwanted substances, but has also been shown to have anti-cancer properties and may be particularly protective against colon cancer. 

Drink pomegranate juice, or sprinkle pomegranate seeds on salads – these ruby beauties are full of good stuff.

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Tumeric

Tumeric really is a super-spice. The magic ingredient is curcumin, and not only does this help to speed up phase II detoxification in the liver, there is a great deal of evidence to demonstrate its preventative qualities against various cancers.

Spice up curries, stews and soups with this amazing vibrant powder.

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Apples

An apple a day really can keep the doctor away! Apples, specifically the peel, contain a substance known as ursolic acid, which helps in the production of bile.

Bile is a vital means of getting all the nasties as quickly as possible out of your body.

Remember not to peel your apples, but choose organic varieties as non-organic ones are notorious for having high levels of pesticides.

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Prunes

Prunes are a great source of prebiotic fibre, which helps along the process of bowel elimination.

Not only that, prunes help to simulate the growth of ‘good’ bacteria in the gut, to keep that area healthy and prevent the overgrowth of ‘bad’ bacteria, which can lead to bloating and other undesirable tummy troubles.

Have prunes with yoghurt for breakfast and get your digestion off to a great start!

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Tomatoes

Tomatoes contain a powerful antioxidant known as lycopene, and many studies have shown that increased intake of tomatoes and tomato products is associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Research has also found that lycopene increased levels of a substance in the body known as glutathione (GSH), which is involved with detoxification of cells in the liver.

So an all-round good thing!

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Watercress

Watercress packs a double detox punch – it not only stimulates the activity of detoxifying enzymes in the liver, it also acts as a diuretic to flush out the toxins.

Watercress is delicious blended into soups, or add to salads and sandwiches for a peppery powerhouse lunch.

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Garlic

Garlic’s health benefits have been recognised for thousands of years. Not only full of antioxidants, garlic has antibacterial and antifungal properties, and sulphur-rich foods such as this have been administered for decades as part of detoxification programmes.

Chopped, sliced or crushed, garlic can be added to almost any soup, stew, curry or pasta sauce – the list is endless. Supplements are also available if you are garlic-averse!

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Coriander

Some studies have shown that the leaves of this wonderful plant can accelerate the detoxification of heavy metals such as mercury, lead and aluminium, which we are all exposed to every day.

Coriander is fabulously versatile and can be included in soups and curries, used to make pesto sauce and sprinkled on just about anything for a fresh, fragrant flavour.

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