After the two May bank holiday weekends and the May half term our bodies have been filled with Pimms, BBQs, chocolate and more delicious treats. But with Summer just around the corner it is time for a full body detox and we have put together some of Women’s Health top detox food tips for your body:
1. Beetroot
These purple gems are one of the few edible plants that contain betalains, good for you plant pigments that give beets their distinct colour and are known for their anti-inflammatory and detoxing properties.
Not only that, but a study from the University of Exeter showed that beetroot juice could boost stamina and help you exercise for 16 percent longer due to nitrates that reduce oxygen uptake, making exercise less tiring. Hey, after a big weekend of eating and drinking, a longer workout is no bad thing.
2. Avocado
Avocados are full of heart-healthy fats and also contain glutathione, a ‘super’ antioxidant that is particularly good at protecting your liver and digestive system from oxidative damage.
3. Watercress
Watercress contains more vitamin C than oranges, more calcium than milk, more iron than spinach and more vitamin E than broccoli. Worth tossing a couple of leaves into your salad then. Especially after a long weekend when watercress’ diuretic properties will help flush out toxins and excess fluids (like yesterday’s fourth glass of Pinot).
4. Yoghurt
Yoghurt is a probiotic which is ‘good’ bacteria found in your gut meaning that yoghurts aid digestion and intestinal health. Also, in a recent study published in the British Journal of Nutrition they found that probiotics could also help you lose weight – what more could we ask for!
5. Garlic
Garlic has been used for centuries for its many health benefits. One of the main benefits of garlic is that is contains allicin, a powerful antioxidant that plays a crucial role in protecting the liver from damage.