Detox nutrients

MARCH 10, 2011

in DETOX FOODS AND NUTRITION,TIPS TO DETOX NATURALLY

When we think about detox, we often think about fasting. And while fasting can have beneficial results in some specific cases, it’s usually not the best option for most of us.  Strict fasts must be done carefully, as when done unsupervised they could easily do more harm than good.  The truth is that your body needs a plethora of different nutrients to detox naturally and maintain good health.  So not only you must actually eat to detox, you also need a varied diet rich in the nutrients required for detoxification, and that definitely can’t be done by eating only grapes or by drinking a mixture of lemon juice and maple syrup!

The nutrients your body is using for natural detoxification is quite extensive.  Research has found that vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants including beta-carotene, folic acid, niacin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, vitamin B12, pyridoxine, vitamin C, vitamin E, calcium, copper, germanium, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, sulphur, zinc, alpha-ketoglutaric acid, chlorophyll, choline, cysteine, d-glucarate, digestive enzymes, fatty acids, glycine, lecithin, glutathione, methionine, n-acetyl cysteine, silymarin, limonene, naringenin, lycopene, quercetin, rutin, chiro-inositol and citruline are all playing a role into the natural detoxification process. Of course, the list of the many compounds that your body uses to detox naturally could go on forever, and remembering each single nutrient is not necessary.  However, here’s a list of the main nutrients you should look for in a detox diet or simply to stay healthy.  If the detox method you consider lacks any of the following nutrients, then keep looking.  Of course, those nutrients are also essential to good health, not only for detox purposes!

Detox nutrients source

Beta-carotene: Carrots, beets, leafy greens, melon, squash, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, romaine lettuce, broccoli

Folic Acid: Legumes, broccoli, asparagus, beans, lettuce, spinach, beets, sweet potatoes, leafy greens

Niacin: Mushrooms, asparagus, sea vegetables, peanuts, green peas, lettuce, tomatoes

Pantothenic Acid: Green vegetables, beans, kale, cauliflower, peas, sweet potatoes, whole grains, brown rice

Riboflavin: Mushrooms, spinach, leafy greens, broccoli, almonds, asparagus, green peas

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): Brown rice, nuts, seeds, nut butters, oats, asparagus, beets, leafy greens, raisins, tomatoes, eggplant, Brussels sprouts, legumes

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): Bananas, avocados, whole grains, cantaloupe, walnuts, peanuts, pecans, leafy greens, green peppers, carrots, garlic, mushrooms, asparagus, broccoli

Vitamin C: Citrus fruits, apples, strawberries, beet greens, spinach, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, peppers, papaya, Swiss chard, squash

Vitamin E: Brussels sprouts, leafy greens, cold-pressed vegetable oils, sunflower seeds, kiwifruit, papaya, blueberries

Calcium: Leafy greens, almonds, carob, sesame seeds, tahini, broccoli, fresh basil, blackstrap molasses, green beans, Brussels sprouts, oranges, cinnamon

Copper: Almonds, mushrooms, sesame seeds, peanuts, cashews, sunflower seeds, beans and legumes, whole grains, oats, leafy greens, avocadoes, pears, prunes

Germanium: Garlic, shiitake mushrooms, onions, whole grains

Iron: Beans and legumes, leafy greens, asparagus, shiitake, whole grains, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, turmeric, blackstrap molasses, green peas

Magnesium: Leafy greens, zucchini, pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, whole grains, buckwheat, black beans, almonds, cashews,

Manganese: Nuts and seeds, whole grains, leafy greens, Brussels sprouts, green peas, kelp, raspberries, blueberries, bananas, figs, sweet potatoes,

Molybdenum: Brown rice, millet, buckwheat, legumes, leafy greens, whole grains

Selenium: Whole grains, Brazil nuts, kelp, garlic, mushrooms, sunflower seeds, asparagus

Sulphur: Radish, turnip, onions, celery, horseradish, kale, cucumber

Zinc: Sprouted seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, onions, nuts, leafy greens, peas, beets, beet greens, mushrooms