Clean Sweep: Top 5 Superfoods to Enhance Your Detox Routine

Let’s face it—we live in a world brimming with toxins, from the food we eat to the air we breathe. It’s more important than ever to give our bodies a helping hand in flushing out these unwelcome guests. That’s where the magic of infrared saunas, like those from High Tech Health, comes into play! These saunas are fantastic at helping you sweat out toxins and feel rejuvenated. And when you pair your sauna sessions with the right detox-supportive foods, you’re not just enhancing this cleansing process; you’re also giving a boost to vital organs like your liver and kidneys. Ready to feel cleaner, lighter, and more vibrant? Let’s dive into how you can supercharge your detox journey!

1. Beet Root

Beetroot is like a shield for your liver, the body’s primary detox organ. It contains compounds called methyl donors and betaine, which help keep your liver healthy by preventing fat from building up in it. This is crucial for keeping your liver working efficiently at removing toxins from your body. For the best detox benefits, try eating beetroot that’s lightly steamed or fermented—it’s not only tasty but also packed with these liver-protecting qualities (1)(2).

2. Broccoli Seed Sprouts

These little sprouts are powerhouses when it comes to cleaning out toxins. They contain a special compound called sulforaphane that turns on the body’s natural detox processes, helping to flush out harmful substances like benzene (found in some plastics and exhaust fumes) and acrolein (a harsh irritant found in smoke). Eating these sprouts raw is the best way to get all their detox benefits (3)(4).

3. Burdock Root

Burdock root is filled with nutrients that help cleanse your blood by removing toxins. This root vegetable can be a great addition to your diet if you’re looking to support your body’s natural cleaning processes. Try it steamed or sautéed for a delicious and beneficial dish (5).

4. Asparagus

Asparagus is extremely rich in glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that helps break down toxins and makes it easier for the body to expel them. This makes asparagus a strong ally in detoxification. To get the most out of asparagus’s detoxifying effects, lightly steam it before eating. This cooking method helps preserve its valuable nutrients and makes it even more effective at cleansing your body (6).

5. Chlorella

Chlorella is a type of algae that acts like a tiny vacuum cleaner for heavy metals in your body, such as lead and mercury. These metals can be harmful if they build up, so taking chlorella helps keep your system clean. It’s usually found in tablet form, making it an easy and effective way to boost your detox routine (7)(8).

These foods are not only nutritious but also help enhance the detoxifying effects of infrared saunas, making them great complements to your health routine. Enjoy these foods in combination with regular infrared sauna sessions to maximize your body’s detox potential. Next time you are at the grocery store add these detox supportive foods to your shopping cart!

Research

1. Fateh HL, Rashid SA, Muhammad SS, Al-Jaf SH, Ali AM. Comparing effects of beetroot juice and Mediterranean diet on liver enzymes and sonographic appearance in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomized control trials. Front Nutr. 2023 Aug 17;10:1181706. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1181706. PMID: 37662597; PMCID: PMC10469647.

2. Shikha Srivastava S, Siddiqi Z, Singh T, Bala L. Beetroot Supplementation on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Patients. Curr Res Nutr Food Sci 2019; 7(1). doi : http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CRNFSJ.7.1.10

3. Yoshida K, Ushida Y, Ishijima T, Suganuma H, Inakuma T, Yajima N, Abe K, Nakai Y. Broccoli sprout extract induces detoxification-related gene expression and attenuates acute liver injury. World J Gastroenterol. 2015 Sep 21;21(35):10091-103. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i35.10091. PMID: 26401074; PMCID: PMC4572790.

4. “Rapid and Sustainable Detoxification of Airborne Pollutants by Broccoli Sprout Beverage: Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial in China” was written by Patricia A. Egner; Jian Guo Chen; Adam T Zarth; Derek Ng; Jinbing Wang; Kevin H Kensler; Lisa P Jacobson; Alvaro Munoz; Jamie L Johnson; John D Groopman; Jed W. Fahey; Paul Talalay; Jian Zhu; Tao-Yang Chen; Geng-Sun Qian; Steven G. Carmella; Stephen S. Hecht; and Thomas W. Kensler.

5. Chan YS, Cheng LN, Wu JH, Chan E, Kwan YW, Lee SM, Leung GP, Yu PH, Chan SW. A review of the pharmacological effects of Arctium lappa (burdock). Inflammopharmacology. 2011 Oct;19(5):245-54. doi: 10.1007/s10787-010-0062-4. Epub 2010 Oct 28. PMID: 20981575.

6. Kulczyński B, Kobus-Cisowska J, Kmiecik D, Gramza-Michałowska A, Golczak D, Korczak J. Antiradical capacity and polyphenol composition of asparagus spears varieties cultivated under different sunlight conditions. Acta Sci Pol Technol Aliment. 2016 Jul-Sep;15(3):267-279. doi: 10.17306/J.AFS.2016.3.26. PMID: 28071026.

7. Merino JJ, Parmigiani-Izquierdo JM, Toledano Gasca A, Cabaña-Muñoz ME. The Long-Term Algae Extract (Chlorella and Fucus sp) and Aminosulphurate Supplementation Modulate SOD-1 Activity and Decrease Heavy Metals (Hg++, Sn) Levels in Patients with Long-Term Dental Titanium Implants and Amalgam Fillings Restorations. Antioxidants (Basel). 2019 Apr 16;8(4):101. doi: 10.3390/antiox8040101. PMID: 31014007; PMCID: PMC6523211.

8. Yadav, Mahendra & Kumar, Vivek & Sandal, Nidhi & Chauhan, Meenakshi. (2022). Quantitative evaluation of Chlorella vulgaris for removal of toxic metals from body. Journal of Applied Phycology. 34. 1-12. 10.1007/s10811-021-02640-8.

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