Best Natural Detoxifiers

By Sarah Holvik, B.Sc. Nutritional Sciences

What better time than spring to take charge of your health? Jump-start the spring in your step this season and consider including some natural detoxifiers in your diet. But don’t be fooled by fad detox programs that use herbal concoctions with little science to back them up. Simply by eating a variety of fresh foods with detoxifying properties, you will not only have more energy and less pain, but you’ll also enhance your body’s ability to naturally eliminate harmful toxins, while decreasing your risk of chronic disease.

“Simply by eating a variety of fresh foods with detoxifying properties, you will not only have more energy and less pain, but you’ll also enhance your body’s ability to naturally eliminate harmful toxins”

Go green: Along with brussel sprouts and kale, broccoli contains a potent combination of detoxifying compounds, including sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol. These strong antioxidants stimulate important detoxifying enzymes in the body. Kale and other dark green leafy vegetables also reduce the risk of some cancers due to their high chlorophyll and nutrient content.

Root it out: Since the tenth century, dandelion root has been used to remedy liver diseases. Dandelion root contains high levels of vitamin A and choline—a member of the B vitamin family that stimulates detoxification enzymes in the liver. Another herbal root called burdock root has been used for many centuries in western herbal medicine to cure such ailments as measles, arthritis, tonsillitis and other viruses. Rich in phytosterols and essential fatty acids, burdoch root is also known for its blood purifying properties.

Milk it: Like dandelion root, milk thistle is also commonly used in herbal medicine to protect the liver from harmful toxins and disease. A striking example: milk thistle prevents severe liver damage caused by Amanita phalloides (Death Cap) mushrooms. To experience the detoxifying benefits choose a milk thistle product that provides at least 70% of the active ingredient silymarin.

Feel the heat: Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin, a potent chemical that stimulates enhanced blood circulation—an essential part of the natural detoxification process. Blood is required to transport and eliminate toxic and waste materials from our bodies. Even if we stimulate detoxifying enzymes in the liver by eating specific foods, we will not experience the benefits if blood flow to that area is poor.

Embrace clay: While not a food, specific mineral-rich montmorillonite clays are also used to safely detoxify the body in many cultures worldwide. Due to their negative charge, the unique highly absorptive properties of clay bind positively charged toxins such as aflatoxin, pesticides and herbicides, facilitating their safe removal from the body. Over half of the SierraSil® mineral powder naturally contains 100% pure montmorillonite clay sourced from the pristine Sierra Mountains of USA, preserving its natural detoxifying properties.

In our increasingly toxic world, we are only beginning to realize the importance of consuming safe and effective natural detoxifiers in our everyday lives. By taking advantage of nature’s detoxifying agents, we can experience health benefits such as higher energy levels and decreased risk of disease. And who knows? You may even discover a new favourite food in the process.