The Top 10 Leafy Greens You Need to Eat When Detoxing
Are you looking to detox your body and improve your health? If so, you need to start eating leafy greens! Leafy greens are some of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet and they are essential for detoxing. We will discuss the top 10 leafy greens you need to eat when detoxing in this blog post. We will also provide nutritional benefits for each one!
1) Kale
Kale is regarded as being one of the most nutrient-dense foods on earth. It has more iron than beef, more calcium than milk, more Vitamin C than oranges, and more fiber than bran cereals! As if all that wasn’t enough reason to eat kale, it also contains a pigment called kaempferol which helps lower high blood pressure and boost our immune system.
2) Spinach
Spinach is full of folate, magnesium, iron, Vitamin K & Vitamin A. Spinach also contains high amounts of lutein (good for eyesight), zeaxanthin (helps lower risk of macular degeneration), glucosinolates (combats cancer), and phytochemicals which help prevent heart disease. There is absolutely no reason not to eat spinach!
3) Parsley
Parsley is packed with Vitamin C, iron, and calcium. It has been famous for helping tone the kidneys and stimulating urine production, which is why it’s a common ingredient in detox teas. Parsley also contains apiol and myristicin (stimulate bile flow and digestive juices) and Petroselinum crispum (helps prevent gas).
4) Broccoli
Another one of those superfoods – broccoli helps cleanse the body of toxins as well as is packed with vitamin K & Vitamin C. It also contains indoles which help lower the risk of certain cancers, as well as glucoraphanin, which enhances liver function by helping break down carcinogens from food before they have a chance to do damage to our bodies.
5) Daikon Radish
Daikon radishes are a type of Japanese turnip and have been known to help stimulate the digestive system, break down & eliminate mucus in the body and reduce inflammation in the liver. They also contain many different nutrients, including Vitamins B1, B2, C & E, as well as iron.
6) Arugula
Another one of my personal favorites, arugula, contains choline which helps prevent memory loss and lower anxiety. Additionally, it can act as a natural diuretic and help flush out excess water from our bodies.
7) Celery
Celery is the perfect veggie to have on hand if you’re looking for something low in calories and detox-friendly. It has been known to cleanse the kidneys and colon, lower blood pressure and reduce inflammation in tissues/joints. It is also very high in Vitamin K & magnesium (which may help prevent osteoporosis)
8) Bok Choy
Like most leafy greens on this list, bok choy contains plenty of iron, calcium, Vitamins A & C, and antioxidants that help detox the body by preventing damage to cells which helps protect against cancer. Bok choy is also believed to reduce fatigue and increase energy levels, lower blood pressure and promote healthy hair, skin & nails.
9) Parsnip
This root vegetable contains high amounts of Vitamin B6, iron & magnesium. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, which are good for the gut. Personally, I find parsnips to be similar in texture to potatoes when roasted or mashed, so they’re great for replacing carbs if you’re trying to kick your carb habit! They’re great for detoxing because they contain Vitamin K, which can help prevent Kaposi’s sarcoma (an advanced form of cancer).
10) Watercress
Watercress is packed with vitamins including Vitamin C, A, E & K. In addition, it contains a high amount of omega-3 fatty acids that can help reduce inflammation in the body. It’s believed that watercress helps lower the risk of certain cancers and promotes healthy skin.
Surprising Common Benefits of These Leafy Greens While Detoxing :
1) Burns the fat – these leafy greens are high in fiber which helps to keep us full while preventing constipation.
2) Packed with nutrition – these veggies provide you with essential vitamins and minerals.
3) No calorie worry – no need to worry about calories because it’s just fibrous, nutrient-rich goodness!
4) Detoxifies the liver – all these leafy greens help detox the liver (read more here ).
5) Stronger bones – good for detoxing if you’re looking to prevent osteoporosis or increase bone density (high in calcium, Vitamin K & magnesium).
6) Fight off cancer – packed with antioxidants that protect against damage to cells which may prevent certain cancers like skin cancer (apply topically too ).
7) Balanced hormones – these leafy greens are low in calories (a lot of them!) which may help prevent spikes in blood sugar levels that can trigger imbalances during PMS.
8) Healthy heart – All of them are full of B vitamins that provide energy to the body and promote cardiovascular health.
9) Beautiful skin, hair & nails – They contain Vitamins A, C & K (Good for anti-aging).
10) Balanced moods – choline content helps improve memory concentration and prevents anxiety/stress. It also reduces fatigue.
The healthier you eat, the better your body will function and feel. Eating leafy greens such as spinach or kale is a great way to detoxify your system and clean out toxins that may be present because of things like pollution in our environment. With so many different types of leafy greens available, it can be hard to determine which ones are good for us, but we’ve compiled a list of 10 top leafy green vegetables that everyone should include in their diet if they want to stay healthy. What was the last time you ate some type of leafy green? What if you could grow your own at home?
For more instant tips and helpful information, you can follow my Instagram here Certified Health Coach, Chaundria Singleton!