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It’s easy to get carried away over the festive period when food and alcohol can be in abundance. If you’re feeling like your body could do with a re-set or you’re just keen to start new healthy habits, find out which foods are the best for cleansing your system...
Keep reading for a list of 12 ingredients that you should include in your diet if you want to kick start the year the healthiest way.
Water: hydrating and purifying
Drinking water helps the elimination of toxic substances from the blood. Ideally you should drink a couple of glasses of water when you wake up and before eating breakfast.
The adult human body has a 65% of water so one of the first habits we should get into is drinking at least 1.5-2 litres of water a day
Eat foods that contain cystine to prevent cell damage
Eggs, meat, fish, asparagus, buckwheat and other vegetables contain cystine which is an amino acid that helps our body create the important antioxidant enzyme glutathione. This in turn helps prevent cell damage.
Broccoli and cauliflower are sources of sulforaphane
Sulforaphane is an important antioxidante as well as helping improve muscular mass.
Include these cruciferous vegetables in green juices or as a side dish.
Tumeric to spice up your life
Tumeric has fat-burning properties, fights cancer, helps improve blood circulation thanks to its anticoagulant component which is called curcumin. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and could help prevent the onset of diabetes.
Tumeric is often a main ingredient of curries or add it to drinks to create golden lattes.
The attributes of artichokes
According to experts, artichokes are a great ally in the quest for a body reboot, thanks to the diuretic effect they have on our organisms. Toxins and other unwanted substances can be flushed out after partaking of these flavorsome vegetables.
Grill, bake, roast and even add them to pizzas.
Asparagus as a starter or side
The mayority of nutritional experts agree that asparagus is a superfood. It’s low in calories and is highly diuretic – allowing toxins and excess liquids to be flushed out of our bodies.
Zucchini
This fibre-abundant vegetable is made up of 95% water and is rich in mucilage, a soothing substance for the digestive system.
A versatile vegetable, it can be added to sauces, stir-fried with other vegetables, blended into soups, meat, tortillas and you can even make pasta out of it.
Up your fibre intake for happy intestinal flora
Eating plenty of fibre-rich food is key to re-setting your system after the excesses of the holiday season. Legumes like peas, chickpeas or lentils have plenty of fibre, which is essential for recuperating intestinal flora balance and digestive health.
Infustions to hydrate and flush out toxins
Infusions and herbal teas are another healthy tool in the fight for a fit body. Aside from their specific effects (chamomile for sleep, mint for digestion for example), they are great for hydrating the body and for their diuretic effects. Horsetail tea is a particularly good one to take.
Lean meat
Even if you’ve over-consumed meat during the festive period, it doesn’t mean that you should cut down on all meats for the near future.
However it is advisable to reduce consumption of high-fat meats and choose lean meat such as chicken or fish instead. If they can be steamed or oven-cooked rather than fried, then better still.
Nuts, dried fruits and seeds
Dried fruits, nuts and seeds are great to add to dishes or as a snack between meals. They are high in Omega 3 - crucial for protecting our cardiovascular system.