Cleansing foods to reboot your body

After a festive season of overindulgence, it may be time to take a break.

Try these top 10 detox foods:

LEMON

Lemons are a staple of many detox diets, and there is good reason for this. First, lemons are packed with the antioxidant vitamin C, which is great for the skin and for fighting disease-forming free-radicals.

Citrus fruit also has an alkaline effect on the body, meaning it can help restore the body's pH balance, benefiting the immune system.

Start your day with hot water and a slice of lemon to help flush out toxins and cleanse your system.

GINGER

If too much fatty food or alcohol has caused problems for your digestive system, add some ginger to your diet. Ginger is not only great for reducing nausea, but helps improve digestion, beat bloating and reduce gas.

Ginger is high in antioxidants and is good for boosting the immune system.

To give your digestion a helping hand, sip on ginger tea or add some freshly grated ginger to a fruit or vegetable juice.

GARLIC

Garlic is known for its heart benefits, and is good for detoxifying the body.

Garlic is not only antiviral, antibacterial and antibiotic, but it contains a chemical called allicin, which promotes the production of white blood cells and helps fight toxins. Garlic is best eaten raw, so crush some into a salad dressing to boost its flavour and your health.

ARTICHOKE

If you have overindulged recently, add steamed globe artichoke leaves to your meals to help get your body back on track. Globe artichokes are packed with antioxidants and fibre and can also help the body digest fatty foods.

Globe artichokes are renowned for their wonderful ability to stimulate and improve the functions of the liver, which is the body's main toxin-fighting tool.

BEETROOT

For those needing a quick health-boosting shot of nutrients, you can't do much better than beetroot. Packed with magnesium, iron and vitamin C, the vegetable has recently been hailed as a superfood.

It's great for skin, hair and cholesterol levels, and supports liver cleansing, making it an ultimate detox food. Add raw beetroot to salads or sip on beetroot juice.

GREEN TEA

Although not technically a food, no detox plan would be complete without liquids. Fluids keep our organs healthy and flush toxins from the body, and drinking green tea is a great way of boosting your intake. Green tea is not only a good weight-loss drink, but it is extremely high in antioxidants.

Research has also suggested that drinking green tea can protect the liver from diseases.

CABBAGE

Many celebrities have resorted to the cabbage soup diet to help lose weight and get in shape quickly before a big event.

However, cabbage is not only good for weight loss - it is also an excellent detoxifying food. Like most cruciferous vegetables (including broccoli and sprouts), cabbage contains a chemical called sulforaphane, which helps the body remove toxins.

Cabbage also supplies the body with glutathione, an antioxidant that helps improve the detoxifying function of the liver.

FRESH FRUIT

Fresh fruits are high in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibre and are also low in calories, making them an important part of a detox diet. If you're after brighter eyes and skin, shinier hair and improved digestion, boost your fruit intake and eat from a wide variety of different kinds.

Fruit is easy to add to your diet - start your day with a fresh fruit salad or smoothie and snack on pieces of fruit throughout the day.

BROWN RICE

If you want to cleanse your system and boost your health, it's a good idea to cut down on processed foods. Instead, supplement your diet with healthier wholegrains such as brown rice, which is rich in many key detoxifying nutrients including B vitamins, magnesium, manganese and phosphorous. Brown rice is also high in fibre, which cleanses the colon, and rich in selenium, which protects the liver and improves the complexion.

WATERCRESS

Like most green herbs and vegetables, watercress is an excellent health-booster and detox food. First, watercress leaves are packed with many vital detoxifying nutrients, including several B vitamins, zinc, potassium, vitamin E and vitamin C. Secondly, watercress has natural diuretic properties, which can help flush toxins out of the body. To reap the benefits of this nutritious food, add a handful of watercress to salads, soups and sandwiches.

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