Detox Foods - Greens
Everyone knows green veggies are good for you, but the big questions are why and how they’re beneficial. Aside from helping with absorption and utilisation of every other colour fruit and veg - which is super beneficial in itself - greens can detoxify your internal organs and help clean out nasties from your body.
Your organs have an inbuilt detoxifying function but modern processed foods, junk foods and environmental chemicals can really give them a bashing. Green fruit and vegetables contain a compound called chlorophyll which is what gives them their green colour. This compound can help clean your organs of insecticide and pesticide residue, environmental pollutants and some excess heavy metals. They can also help neutralise free radical compounds which cause premature ageing and sluggish organs.
Most people don’t need a specific ‘detoxing’ regime, especially one of these fad juice cleanses or prolonged greens-only diets. Just make sure every meal is a little green and you’ll reap the benefits. It’s as simple as that.
The Dark Side
Darker greens are especially good at binding and eliminating nasty, cancer-causing carcinogens. The phytochemicals and increased chlorophyll in dark greens can also boost immunity and eliminate toxins, particularly in your liver and kidneys. Think spinach and kale, chards and beet greens, unpeeled zucchini and green capsicum.
Red veined sorrel and rainbow chard class as dark green leafies so aside from their benefits, as above, they also look gorgeous and taste amazing! If you’re unfamiliar with these, you’ll find them on plates in fancy restaurants but you can buy and grow them really easily. Sorrel especially will literally grow anywhere and can take a good pruning a few times a week which means free salad greens!
Come Into The Light
Lighter greens can help reduce digestive problems and actually help clean your bloodstream. Brussels sprouts, beans and broccoli are low FODMAP options, while artichokes, chokos, asparagus and peas are delicious as well.
Try leafy light greens such as bok choy and pak choy, wombok and lettuces for crunch and texture. My favourite snack right now is wombok sautéed with sesame seeds and ginger, topped with chilli and spring onion. Yum yum!
Drinking It In
Don’t forget the greens include a bunch of teas and juices which pack a nutrient punch! Green tea contains catechins that act as antioxidants, cleaning out nasties and fighting free radicals. That means brighter skin, healthier organs and less bloating. What’s not to love there!
Green juices, such as wheatgrass and lemon, boost immunity while removing toxins and waste chemicals from the liver. These are best added to a more palatable juice or drunk in a single dose however. It’s an acquired taste.
The Raw Truth
I’m often asked how to get the most out of green veggies. Keep in mind that a leafy salad can be just as delicious as a bunch of steamed greens, and both have their benefits. Raw greens will retain the vitamin C, while steaming or stir frying can help breakdown longer-chain compounds so absorption of iron and chlorophyll is easier. Ideally, mix it up with some raw and some cooked greens for optimum nutrient uptake.
Give Greens the Green Light
So now you’re armed with a bunch of ideas to keep you looking and feeling great, and helping you get back on the bandwagon after those bingy nights and busy weeks. Remember that adding a little green to every meal will help you absorb nutrients from all the other coloured fruit and veggies so give greens the green light!
Colour It Up!
The take home message is this: a rainbow of fruit and vegetables in your diet is one of the best ways to fight the ageing process, feel fantastic and ensure every meal is fun and exciting. It’s win win!
Here’s our little fruit and veg rainbow once more to get your started:
