Heavy metals are everywhere nowadays. They contaminate air, drinking water, food, and personal care products. Fortunately, eating plenty of detox foods will help the body purge itself of the toxic chemicals.
Start with cilantro. The popular herb helps remove mercury and other toxins that affect the nervous system. It goes well with salads, salad dressings, and detox drinks.
Blueberries make healthy ingredients for smoothies. They are a welcome addition to coconut yogurt with almonds.
They are rich in antioxidants, with wild ones having higher concentrations. Antioxidants not only help expel heavy metals, but also repair the damage caused by oxidative stress.
Lemon supports the detoxifying efforts of the body by boosting hydration. A well-hydrated body is better at expelling toxins.
Squeeze one of these fruits and add the freshly pressed juice to a glass of water. Being a rich source of vitamin C, lemon juice helps protect cells from oxidative stress caused by heavy metals. Additionally, vitamin C assists the body in eliminating lead.
Add freshly squeezed lemon juice to a glass of warm water. Drinking this first thing in the morning improves digestion and elimination, which contribute to effective detox. (Related: Unraveling the science behind “detox dreams”.)
These detox foods cleanse heavy metals from the body
Spirulina is a superfood made from edible blue-green algae. It helps manage inflammation levels and supports the body’s natural detoxification of heavy metals.
It also protects the brain from oxidative stress. Sprinkle a teaspoon of spirulina powder over smoothies, freshly pressed fruit juices, and guacamole.
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Another algae-based superfood is chlorella. This nutritious food comes from aquatic green algae. It shares the same neurotoxin-fighting activity as cilantro and also helps the body detox from mercury.
It may also offer protection against other heavy metals. A 2003 mice study by Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP) researchers showed that chlorella protects against lead exposure, while a different experiment indicated that the superfood reduces the body’s absorption rate of cadmium.
One of the many health benefits of garlic is increasing the synthesis of glutathione. This natural antioxidant is also the most powerful one available to the body, and it plays a critical role in the process of detoxifying heavy metals.
Beets support detoxification in a roundabout way. They support the proper function of the liver, which handles most of the detox duties in the body.
Beetroot juice increases the levels of enzymes that contribute to detoxification. It also boosts glutathione, the earlier-mentioned and most effective natural antioxidant of the body.
Add roasted beets to salads. They may also get heated and drizzled with olive oil and a little salt.
Protect your health from cadmium, lead, and mercury with these fresh foods
Another plant-based food that loves the liver is artichokes. The leaves and roots contain natural compounds that protect hepatic cells from injury. They also promote liver regeneration.
Like beets, artichokes support detoxification by improving the health and efficiency of the liver, which removes toxins from the blood and body. Roasted artichoke makes for a tasty snack and side dish for Paleo foods.
Turmeric spice contains a bioactive compound called curcumin. Among other beneficial effects, it protects the body against mercury.
Curcumin helps reduce the harmful effects of mercury on the kidneys and liver. Like artichokes and beets, it encourages the production of more glutathione.
Take curcumin with black pepper. The latter makes the former much more accessible by the body.
Finally, there is ginger. Its anti-inflammatory properties are well-suited to fighting off oxidative stress caused by high levels of heavy metals.
Whip up a healthy juice with apple, ginger, and lemon. Or add some fresh ginger to desserts, soups, and stews. Happy detoxing!
Sources include:
Blog.PaleoHacks
ScienceDirect