How to Detox Your Body? Alkalizing Green Leafy Vegetables
By Stevie Wilson
Eat your greens, kids.
Good news: there’s a (really) easy way to get your detoxifying greens.
Your body is made to keep itself healthy—it has all sorts of cool ways to keep your organs working and keep the blood pumping through your veins. Perhaps most importantly, it even has ways to keep itself detoxified.
What Does it Mean to Detox?
Your lymphatic system, lungs, kidneys, and intestines are all part of your body’s detox team, but the real star is your liver. This superstar organ takes the bad stuff that comes into your body (toxic substances) and turns it all into a format your body can get rid of naturally (excretion). But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t benefit from some help.
Toxins and toxic substances affect your body in two ways: acutely and cumulatively.
- An example of acute toxicity is when you have a reaction to something that’s made its way into your body (say, expired food). You’ll notice this right away, as your body will do everything it can to get rid of it.
- What’s more worrying are the things that appear in such low doses that you may not notice toxicity until it’s already built up in your system (cumulative).
The best defense against low-grade, or cumulative, toxicity is detoxification. Eating plenty of veggies—especially green leafy vegetables—is a great way to help your body naturally detoxify your body.
Alkaline veggies, help detoxify the body, deliver high amounts of antioxidants, and provide greens-specific phytonutrients. Here’s a breakdown of all the good stuff we’ve packed into the powder.
The Top Alkalizing Greens
Chlorella
Chlorella is a type of single-celled algae. When it gets to your intestines, chlorella naturally attaches itself to heavy metals (like mercury and lead) and pesticides and helps usher them out of your system. What makes this ingredient extra-special it that it won’t attach to beneficial minerals like calcium or zinc. It knows who the bad guys are.
Dulse
This type of dried seaweed has similar properties to chlorella: it binds to heavy metals and hangs onto them as it works its way through your digestive tract. Dulse is especially helpful because it can sit in your lower digestive tract (your colon) and help out other ingredients if there are any heavy metals left over.
Kale
Ah, kale. Kale is special for so many reasons (tastes great, looks great, full of nutrients). We love kale in our Easy Being Green power because it’s loaded with antioxidants, and its phytonutrients kaempferol and quercetin can help neutralize inflammation.
Parsley
If you think parsley’s only function is as a garnish, think again. This leafy herb contains a ton of vitamins and nutrients (like vitamin C and folic acid) and can help regulate your immune system. Like chlorella, parsley attaches itself to heavy metals to guide them out of your body. What’s more, it contains apigenin, a flavonoid that studies show has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties.
Spinach
Spinach is awesome. Tastes great, easy to cook with and add to smoothies. Loaded with nutrients—like vitamin A, C, K1, iron, calcium, and folic acid (to name a few).Like many leafy greens, spinach is also a powerhouse alkalizing food, so we love it for detox smoothies.
Spirulina
Spirulina is an alga with similar properties to chlorella. It’s super high in chlorophyll and is extremely effective at removing toxins from the body.Phycocyanin, an active component in spirulina, has been shown to have excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
Alfalfa Leaf
What can’t alfalfa leaf do? It contains iron, niacin, folic acid, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chlorophyll, and more. Studies show that it helps detox and protect the urinary tract, helps regulate blood sugar, and is an excellent immune booster—particularly in the digestive tract.
Barley Grass
Not only is it full of vitamins and minerals, barley grass—like its cousins, spirulina and chlorella—is packed with chlorophyll. This helps increase oxygen in your bloodstream, which in turn helps your body get rid of impurities.Like dulse, barley grass binds to heavy metals in your system and ushers them out of your digestive tract.
Broccoli
These green stems are full of fiber (great for your digestive tract) and contain glucoraphanin, gluconasturtiin, and glucobrassicin—key substances to help your body remove toxins. Animal-tested studies have also shown that broccoli can help combat irritable bowel diseases.
Cabbage
Yet another superhero detox food, cabbage is filled with tons of good stuff—especially for your GI tract.In particular, cabbage contains polyphenols, molecules that prevent oxidative damage within our bodies.Studies have also shown that regular consumption of cabbage has cancer-inhibiting results.
Celery
There’s nothing not to like about celery. It contains plenty of vitamins (like C and K) and minerals, such as folate and potassium. Studies have shown that besides being a low-calorie favorite, celery may help reduce inflammation in your gut and help with heart health.
Cilantro
Not just a fresh-tasting salsa ingredient! Animal-tested studies have suggested that cilantro is a chelator (binds to heavy metals) and can help speed up the rate at which your body excretes lead. Another study showed that cilantro can help lower and balance blood sugar levels, which is great news for diabetics.
Dandelion Leaf
Vitamin A. Vitamin C. Vitamin E. Iron. Calcium. Magnesium. We could go on. Dandelions are packed with good stuff. And their roots contain inulin, a fiber that helps keep your gut bacteria numbers strong and help with detoxification.
Green Bell Pepper
High in vitamin C and antioxidants, bell peppers are a great source of fiber and support healthy blood pressure.
Leeks
Like its cousins, garlic and onion, leeks contain powerful antimicrobial compounds. Plus, leeks contain the flavonoid kaempferol, which helps protect blood vessels from oxidative damage.
Oat Grass
Rich in folic acid, iron, protein, vitamin K, vitamin C, and more, oat grass contains plenty of antioxidants to help your body protect itself from damage. Studies also suggest that oat grass raises glutathione levels in the liver, which aids in detoxification.
Sea Kelp
Like cilantro, dulse, and chlorella, sea kelp is a chelator, meaning it binds to heavy metals and prevents them from being re-absorbed into the bloodstream. It’s also high in magnesium, folate, calcium, and vitamin K.
Wheatgrass
Iron. Calcium. Magnesium. Vitamin A. Chlorophyll. Wheatgrass has it all. Studies show that wheatgrass is an excellent source of antioxidants, helping to fight free radicals that can cause cell damage.
It’s a big list, right?
Well, luckily you now can reap all of these benefits in just one scoop.
Ora Organic Organic Greens Powder is certified USDA organic and contains over 20 veggies, grasses, herbs, algae, and superfoods to help give your body a detoxifying boost. Plus, it tastes awesome thanks to the organic fruit we use. No sugar or flavors added. Just good, detoxifying stuff.
Source: https://shop.ora.organic/blogs/news/how-to-detox-your-body-green-leafy-vegetables