by Stacey Garcia

 

Christmas and Hanukkah flew by and we’re gearing up for the New Year.?Ate too many latkes like me??? ?Don’t get down on yourself, get up and?move. Now is the time to make sure you’re eating as clean as?possible. What is “clean”? My Motto.. “If it’s green eat it, if it’s?white skip it!” ?Add tons of veggies to your diet. Most of what you?eat should be made up of raw, steamed, grilled or roasted veggies.Deep fried zucchini doesn’t count! ?If it’s white, you may want to?skip it. ?That goes for white bleached flour and sugar found in most?sweets. Yes, egg whites are still wonderful for you!

 

The following are 10 ingredients given to us by the Global Healing?Center of Natural Health and Organic Living, to add to your diet for a?successful holiday cleanse:

 

1. Fruits

Fruits are extremely high in liquid-content, helping the body wash out?toxins. They are also very easy to digest and are high in?antioxidants, nutrients, fiber and many important vitamins like?vitamin C.

2. Green Foods

When you are ready to detox your body, fill your refrigerator with?blue green algae, barley, wheatgrass, kale, spinach, spirulina,?alfalfa, chard, arugula or other organic leafy greens. These plants?will help give a chlorophyll-boost to your digestive tract.

Chlorophyll rids the body of harmful environmental toxins from smog,?heavy metals, herbicides, cleaning products and pesticides. They also?aid the liver in detoxification.

3. Lemons, Oranges & Limes

These citrus-wonders aid the body in flushing out toxins, as well as?jump-start the digestive tract with enzymatic processes. They also aid?the liver in its cleansing processes. To increase detoxification,?start each morning with a warm glass of lemon water.

Remember, vitamin C is one of the best detox vitamins around, as it?transforms toxins into digestible material. Eat vitamin C foods often?to help get more of these benefits.

4. Garlic

This pungent little bulb is one of the best detox foods out there. It?helps stimulate the liver into producing important detoxification?enzymes that will help filter out toxic residues in the digestive?system. We recommend adding sliced or cooked garlic to any dish, as?this will help aid any detox diet.

5. Broccoli Sprouts

Extremely high in antioxidants, broccoli sprouts can help stimulate?the detoxification enzymes in the digestive tract like none-other. The?sprouts are actually more effective than the fully-grown vegetable.

 

6. Green Tea

Packed full of antioxidants, green tea not only washes toxins out of?the system through its liquid content, but also contains a special?type of antioxidant called catechins, known to increase liver?function.

7. Mung Beans

The mighty mung bean has been used by Ayurvedic doctors for thousands?of years. It is incredibly easy to digest, and absorbs toxic residue?on the sides of the intestinal walls.

 

8. Raw Vegetables

Best for juicing detox regimens or eaten raw: Onions, carrots,?artichoke, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, kale, brussel sprouts,?cauliflower, garlic, beet, turmeric, and oregano. The combination of?these foods will help your liver purge toxins during the cleansing?process. These are high in naturally occurring sulphur and?glutathione. Sulphur helps the liver detoxify harmful chemicals.

9. Seeds & Nuts

Incorporate more of the easily digestible seeds and nuts into your?diet. This include flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, almonds, walnuts, hemp?seeds, sesame seeds, chia seeds, Siberian cedar nuts and sunflower?seeds. While detoxing, avoid nut butters.

10. Omega-3 Oils

Use hemp, avocado, olive oils or flax seed oil while detoxing. This?will help lubricate the intestinal walls, allowing the toxins to be?absorbed by the oil, and eliminated by the body.

 

These 10 power food groups will definetly start your year on the right?foot at Arena Fitness with your favorite group exercise class like Black Belt Booty Fusion or personal?training session. ?Have a healthy New Year!