10 Foods That Help Detox Your Whole Body

Ridding your body of toxins that build up in your system from pollutants or a sedentary lifestyle is actually surprisingly easy.

All it takes is regular movement and a healthy diet, to some extent. The movement part is pretty easy if you get up from your desk regularly or take walks to start or end your day, but the healthy diet part can be much more difficult in practice.

Thanks to nature, there are a number of foods that do the detoxing for you. Here are 10 foods that will help detox your whole body.

1. Blueberries

Blueberries are full of anthocyanins, which are antioxidant, disease-fighting compounds that might play a role in reducing risk of cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline and cancer, according to Today’s Dietitian.

2. Artichokes

The funky-looking plant actually helps the liver function better and purge toxins by helping it product bile, according to Bembu. It’s good bile, though, I swear. The bile helps you break down food and get nutrients more easily.

3. Ginger

Ginger is a digestive tonic, according to Prevention, and it aids circulation. If isn’t something you’d normally eat, try making a delicious detox drink with water with lemon, mint, ginger and cucumber, according to Pop Sugar.

4. Avocados

Liver Support calls it “the Almighty Avocado,” because it’s got such great anti-inflammatory and detoxifying properties. Avocados also provide immune system support, they help with cardiovascular health and they’re good for your sight.

5. Lemons

Lemons have limonoids, which are antioxidant compounds that activate detoxifying enzymes in your body, according to Prevention.

6. Mango

Apparently eating just one cup of mango fulfills three-quarters of your daily vitamin C requirements, Prevention found. And it’s packed with fiber. Mangoes were also used in traditional medicine in India to remove toxins from the body, treat anemia and heal the nervous system, according to Natural News.

7. Parsley

This herb is a natural diuretic and it helps eliminate toxins in the urine.

8. Kale

Yes, this is yet another health-related list where kale is included. But it’s really just that amazing. Kale helps flush out the kidneys, which are pretty important when it comes to detoxing the body.

Kale is so good at this job that it’s recommended by doctors to patients fighting kidney disease, according to Bembu. And it has a ton of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, vitamins and minerals.

9. Peppermint

There isn’t a good detox smoothie out there that doesn’t suggest peppermint. It’s a natural appetite suppressant (thus why it’s featured so often in chewing gum), it eliminates germs in food and it helps you feel fuller, according to Prevention.

Peppermint helps aid in digestion and has strong antimicrobial properties. Looking for a great peppermint detox water? Here are 20. If water isn’t your thing, here are 25 detox smoothies.

10. Thyme

This herb can help neutralize bugs big and small, including E. coli and staph, which can both cause serious illnesses, according to Prevention. That’s right, there’s an herb that can take on some strains of E. coli. *Salutes nature*

Photo by Jill Clardy