Top 10 Detox Foods

Posted Wed, Mar 19, 2008, 11:07 am PDT

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As spring swings into gear, there's no better time to give your body a healthy, fresh start! Plus, if you're thinking about lowering your weight (and your RealAge) "eating clean" is a great first step. Add these 10 foods to your grocery cart and you'll get three terrific benefits:

1. Lots of super-healthy liquids to flush out the body while pouring in nutrients.

2. Fiber to keep your GI tract fit.

3. Foods that energize cleansing enzymes in the liver, your body's built-in detox center.

The top 10:

Green leafy vegetables Eat them raw, throw them into a broth, add them to juices. Their chlorophyll helps swab out environmental toxins (heavy metals, pesticides) and protects the liver.
Lemons You need to keep the fluids flowing to wash out the body and fresh lemonade is ideal. Its vitamin C, considered the detox vitamin, helps convert toxins into a water-soluble form that's easily flushed away.
Watercress Put a handful into salads, soups, and sandwiches. The peppery little green leaves have a diuretic effect that helps move things through your system. And cress is rich in minerals too.
Garlic Add it to everything -- salads, sauces, spreads. In addition to the bulb's cardio benefits, it activates liver enzymes that help filter out junk.
Green tea This antioxidant-rich brew is one of the healthiest ways to get more fluids into your system. Bonus: It contains catechins, which speed up liver activity.
Broccoli sprouts Get 'em at your health-food store. They pack 20 to 50 times more cancer-fighting, enzyme-stimulating activity into each bite than the grown-up vegetable.
Sesame seeds They're credited with protecting liver cells from the damaging effects of alcohol and other chemicals. For a concentrated form, try tahini, the yummy sesame seed paste that's a staple of Asian cooking.
Cabbage There are two main types of detoxifying enzymes in the liver; this potent veggie helps activate both of them. Coleslaw, anyone?
Psyllium A plant that's rich in soluble fiber, like oat bran, but more versatile. It mops up toxins (cholesterol too) and helps clear them out. Stir powdered psyllium into juice to help cleanse your colon, or have psyllium-fortified Bran Buds for breakfast.
Fruits, fruits, fruits They're full of almost all the good things above: vitamin C, fiber, nutritious fluids, and all kinds of antioxidants. Besides, nothing tastes better than a ripe mango, fresh berries, or a perfect pear.

Ultimate Detox Recipe:
Toss dark, leafy greens in hot, garlicky oil for a cleansing and delicious dish...

Easy Wilted Garlic-Sesame Salad
4 servings, about 65 calories each

1 tsp. olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 lb. spinach, stemmed,
or 1 lb. Swiss chard, stems sliced, leaves torn
or 1 lb. mixture of spinach and watercress
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 tsp. sesame seeds for garnish

Warm oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and stir until lightly browned, about 45 seconds. Add greens (do in two batches, if necessary) and toss until just wilted, 2 to 4 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Average (3060 Ratings): 4.5 out of 5 stars

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334 Comments

1. Posted by madeleine313 on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 11:39 am PDT

Glad to know so many easily-prepared items are healthy and delicious. Thanks!
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2. Posted by example3506@sbcglobal.net on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 1:20 pm PDT

I don'tknow who posted this but they deserve a GOLD STAR!!!! Ifall else fails...grabe a V-8 and add it into the items above
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3. Posted by Marie S on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 1:23 pm PDT

same old stuff.
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4. Posted by DIANA on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 1:26 pm PDT

Tried the salad...pretty tasty!
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5. Posted by stoltzw1@verizon.net on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 1:28 pm PDT

very good info i for one will be eating better from now on thank you very much billy boy 721
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6. Posted by charlietuna61 on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 1:33 pm PDT

I just got out of detox.
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7. Posted by Caegan on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 1:35 pm PDT

I discovered saute-ing chard in a little extra-virgin olive oil w/ a little onion and minced garlic years ago. I hadn't thought of adding sesame seeds. The taste result is fabulous and quite different from eating the vegetables just steamed, etc. Very quick to do after a long day at work ...and very yummy.
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8. Posted by Dolly J on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 1:35 pm PDT

Great list. . . always good to get a little reminder. 2 Comments though. Lemons - You said, a little homemade lemonaide - - make sure you don't add sugar to that lemonaide . . . I just put a couple of tablespoons of fresh lemon Juice in my water, light lemon taste, no sugar Green Tea - Beware, green tea has as much caffeine (or at least close to as much) as coffee, so if caffeine is not your thing . . .
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9. Posted by CHRISTIAN H on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 1:40 pm PDT

Interseting comment about the sesame seeds. I need that for my wine rations!!...which is supposed to be an antioxident!!
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10. Posted by Wicked on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 1:48 pm PDT

hmmm
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11. Posted by adriennegallant@att.net on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 1:51 pm PDT

There should be billboards all over america with this info and in every school cafeteria...eat right -walk whenever you can and smile at everyone = a very happy life and don't forget to drink water every hour thru out the day --8 hours- 8 glasses==AND GLOW!!!!!!!!!!!! ~~ Adrienne G.
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12. Posted by marya1948@att.net on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 1:54 pm PDT

ok
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13. Posted by David H on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 1:56 pm PDT

check this out: http://successnow.usana.com
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14. Posted by Jay C on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 1:58 pm PDT

Balsamic Vinegar goes well in that salad also for a tangy flavor.
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15. Posted by Rayn Wolf on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 1:58 pm PDT

Green tea does not have as much caffine as coffee! Its about half the amount....also this info has been around for eons and then there was the article yahoo posted recently on how detoxing doesnt work or help lo...go figure...all in moderation and fresh n raw is best!
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16. Posted by Jan C on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 2:03 pm PDT

Very lovely thought, Adriennegallant! And this is definitely a good reminder ... sesame seeds on a wilted spinach! I'm there!!!
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17. Posted by vaaperez6@sbcglobal.net on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 2:03 pm PDT

every thing sound great but the garlic when u sweat dont u smell like garlic!!!
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18. Posted by Sterling R on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 2:19 pm PDT

Hmmm. makes me want to eat.
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19. Posted by bullnkitten on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 2:20 pm PDT

detoxing don't work-an old wives tale.
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20. Posted by SunnyDelight on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 2:20 pm PDT

I use herbs.
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21. Posted by melaska on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 2:21 pm PDT

example.... absolutely no V-8 juice!!! it has so much sodium that it actually cancels all the goodness of the veggies. and is very bad for the liver!!!
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22. Posted by Gene R on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 2:22 pm PDT

These are all good ideas especially if you have a full-time cook and nutritionist working for you 7 days a week. Those of us who live alone won't be going through this list too often--because it's a lot of trouble. Which is why most people eat the way they do. Now if all these goodies could be combined in a big nutrition bar that you could munch as you work,,,fabulous! Oprah can live like this but most of us can't--and even she keeps getting fat time after time. I'd like to know how many people will be following these guidelines this spring! Hmmm...
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23. Posted by Kphenomenon on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 2:29 pm PDT

Thanks for the tip.
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24. Posted by mperrine2@att.net on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 2:29 pm PDT

i love taco bell
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25. Posted by stichy1950 on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 2:29 pm PDT

I for one am for lots of fiber...it keeps you cleaned out and it keeps you from alot of colon problems. If this doesn't detox you it's great for just the fiber alone.
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26. Posted by bullnkitten on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 2:30 pm PDT

well said gene r. answer-none!
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27. Posted by melaska on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 2:30 pm PDT

example.... absolutely no V-8 juice!!! it has so much sodium that it actually cancels all the goodness of the veggies. and is very bad for the liver!!!
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28. Posted by Gene R on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 2:31 pm PDT

A good diuretic is a couple of glasses of cold beer. And if you take a multivitamin with it it's even healthier for you. How about a cup of protein powder mixed with your vodka? Talk about a power-packed cocktail! A comic years ago said re health food stores,"everybody in there looks sick!"
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29. Posted by Gene R on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 2:35 pm PDT

If you want a lot of fiber go out and buy 20 or 30 feet of rope, grind it up and mix it with your breakfast cereal. Not too bad, but you'll need a lot of milk(non-fat, of course) to get it down. Who wants a pepperoni pizza? Made with organic flour, of course!
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30. Posted by sgaither1@att.net on Thu, Mar 20, 2008, 2:37 pm PDT

melaska get the V-8 juice without salt.
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