Detox Daily With These 5 Phytonutrients
Toxins exist in every aspect of our lives today; from the air we breathe, to the water we drink, the food we eat, and even the thoughts we think.
Phytonutrients are a surprisingly simple way to combat the toxins we come into contact with everyday. By eating a rainbow of nutrient-dense plant foods, you can support your body's natural detoxification function.
Toxins like heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs), can have a significant negative impact on our health. Exposure to toxins has been linked to inflammation, oxidative damage, neurodegeneration, immune system dysfunction, and skeletal degeneration.
What are Phytonutrients?
Complete avoidance of toxins is impossible, but you can support your body’s detox pathways by eating colorful plant foods! Foods with vibrant hues contain compounds called phytonutrients, and besides giving foods their colors, they also boost your body’s ability to detox.
Five Classes of Phytonutrients
These antioxidant compounds are renowned specifically for their detoxing abilities:
Flavonoids: found in cilantro, parsley, onions, apples, oranges, and blueberries. These antioxidants bind to heavy metals in the body, and aid in their removal from the body through urine.
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG): the richest source is found in green tea. This powerful antioxidant triggers increased production of certain genes and enzymes to assist the body in clearing toxins more efficiently.
Quercetin: Quercetin found in citrus fruits, apples, onions, parsley, nuts, tea, and dark berries like blueberries, blackberries, and bilberries. This anti-inflammatory compound is most concentrated in the skin of fruits and vegetables. When cooking, make an effort to include as much of plant’s outer layer as you can.
Curcumin: the active compound in turmeric, is one of the most beneficial spices for your health. In addition to binding to heavy metals, fighting inflammation, and increasing production of enzymes that assist in detoxification of pollutants, curcumin has also been shown to have cancer preventative properties.
Organosulfur (sulfur) compounds: the richest source is garlic, and it’s also found in onion, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, turnips, and bok choy. These antioxidant-rich phytonutrients contain all the benefits of the other phytonutrients listed above, plus they also protect the liver and reproductive system from toxic invaders.
Try out this phytonutrient-rich Green Detox Broth recipe.
Let Us Help You Flourish
At Flourish! we take an integrative approach to treating clients through mindfulness-based psychotherapy, nutritional services, and wellness consultations. A holistic approach allows us to provide individualized treatment, customized to the needs of each client. By evaluating the whole person, we’re able to get to the root cause of your symptoms and provide the most effective treatment plan so that you can live a fuller, happier life.
The most important value that all of our practitioners share: mindfulness. We believe mindfulness is key to cultivating well-being, but we understand that getting there often requires the guidance of an experienced and trusted facilitator.
If you struggle with depression, anxiety, or a mood disorder, coupled with chronic illness and/or digestive problems, you could benefit from the integrative nutrition and mindfulness-based treatment options available at Flourish!