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