The Art of Cleansing: The Fuel

To start 2015, why not learn how to cleanse your body through fuel instead of starving yourself with strict diets? Here are a few of my tips on the art of cleansing with food!

Every so often we need to cleanse our livers.  Why the liver is so important:

• Filters endogenous & exogenous toxins

• Nutrient Absorption

• Cholesterol

• Hormone stability

• Immune strength

The art of cleansing is much about what you put in as opposed to what you take out.

Fuel to promote natural cleansing

Fruit & Vegetables (rich in antioxidants, fiber and phytonutrients):

Cruciferous Vegetables - broccoli, cauliflower Brussels sprouts. Cabbage

Others  - watercress, rocket, onions, garlic, chicory, beetroot

(Rule of thumb: steam, eat raw (warmer months), add to sauces, soups.  Organic or local. Scrub if organic, peel if not.)

Fruit – berries, apples, pears, pomegranate ,pineapple

(Rule of thumb: stew or poach in colder months as it releases the pectin. Organic or local, peel or scrub.)

Spices – high antioxidant activity, increases the enzymatic activity needed for toxicant breakdown, promotes optimum digestion and therefore elimination.

Use these spices – turmeric, anise, caraway, celery seed, cilantro, cumin coriander, dill, fennel, mint, garlic, onions, ginger, paprika, saffron (i.e. Curries are IDEAL for a cleanse!)

Proteins – organic grass-fed lean meats (poultry, wild fish, lamb) and plant protein.

Grains – they contain fiber, antioxidants, B Vitamins and phenolic acid needed for almost all of the detoxification pathways.

Grains to eat – brown rice. Millet quinoa. Oats.

FATS – our body NEEDS them! They modulate & regulate the ability to store toxins.  Sat fats & trans fats reduce was cells own ability to detoxify.  Essential Fats (fish oils, seed & nuts oils) can increase the breakdown of toxins. 

Fats to munch – seeds & nuts (best if soaked or grind), oily fish (sardines, anchovies. Wild salmon, mackerel)