Eight Detox Foods & Other Natural Sources To Reset Your Body
The truth is that most detox diets usually backfire. Whether it’s a juice cleanse, a pre-packaged meal plan, or detox tea regimen, you’re very likely to feel deprived — and even undernourished. So, after finishing a popular detox diet, you might even feel worse than before.
Fortunately, to detox your body, you don’t need to follow a strict eating plan that leaves you feeling tired and weak. Combined with your body’s natural detoxifying abilities, all you need to do is cut out the wrong foods and introduce the right ones. And this guide from Sunwink will tell you exactly what these should be.
Keep reading for eight detox foods and other natural ways to reset your body — and to feel great while doing it.
Do You Really Need To Detox Your Body?
Let’s get one thing straight: your body has the ability to naturally remove toxins, heavy metals, and unhealthy buildup.
Thanks to your body’s natural detoxification system — kidneys, liver, digestive system, lymphatic system, and skin — this process happens all on its own.
While we’re certainly not disputing this fact, we also know that your body’s detox pathways don’t always bring their A-game.
But you don’t have to resort to a week-long juice cleanse to detox effectively. Actually, there are much easier ways to detox that won’t leave you feeling deprived.
Ready to learn more? Let’s go over some reasons you may need a detox and how you can support your body’s natural detoxing processes.
What Are the Benefits of a Natural Detox?
Let’s face it: Modern life isn’t so conducive to feeling great. Thanks to ultra-processed foods, high levels of stress, and lack of quality sleep, you may find yourself experiencing some side effects. These can range from mild symptoms like fatigue, bloating, and brain fog, to symptoms that are more serious, like breakouts joint problems, acid reflux — or worse.
To heal your body, a detox may be just what you need. Here are some health benefits you may experience after detoxing.
1. You May Feel Better
There are many different detoxes, each with its own protocol. But they all aim to eliminate toxins in your life — which may be at the root of your pesky symptoms. Just several days of detoxing can be what you need to reduce brain fog, digestive discomfort, or other problems you experience on a regular basis.
As a bonus, without all of those pesky toxins to fous on, your immune system is freed up to focus on what really matters — keeping you healthy.
2. You May Lose Weight
There’s a pretty big myth going around that weight loss is a matter of calories in vs. calories out. In reality, calories from sugar are very different from calories that come from healthy proteins and fats.
Sugar calories can trigger overeating and even lead to a sugar addiction. Plus, sugar is known to trigger your body’s natural stress response, which can be why you feel not-so-good after eating too much of it. Last but not least, sugar may even lead your body to store fat in the belly area.
Cutting out harmful sugar calories during a detox may reduce overeating, soothe irritation, and even support weight loss.
3. You May Nix Cravings
Because sugar is biologically addictive, it can lead to side effects like cravings, dependence, and withdrawal. That’s hardly the relationship we want to have with food!
The best way to battle a sugar addiction? Go cold turkey. While a sugar-free detox may be hard at first, several days into it you may find that your cravings completely disappear.
4. You May Identify Food Sensitivities
Of course, not all detoxes will accomplish this. But those that are well-designed will cut out foods known to cause sensitivities. Depending on your unique physiology, this may be gluten, dairy, wheat, soy, or nuts.
When you go several weeks without consuming foods that you’re sensitive to, you may find that your energy levels go up, your skin problems disappear, and your brain fog is lifted. Plus, as you incorporate those foods back into your diet, with the help of a doctor or nutritionist you may identify some food sensitivities that have been causing irritation.
5. You Get a Fresh Start
It’s hard to do healthy things for your body when you feel like crap. But when your body is in its peak shape, suddenly the motivation to eat healthy, sleep more, and exercise reappears.
Just a few days of detoxing can give you a reminder of why living healthy is so important — and give you the boost you need to take care of your overall health and wellness.
What Are Some Detoxifying Foods & Other Natural Sources for a Reset?
Ready to reap the benefits of a detox? Let’s get started!
Here are eight foods (and other natural sources) that can support your body’s detox system.
1. Water
Water is critical for so much more than just feeling hydrated.
Because pretty much all of your organ systems release some kind of waste, having enough water in the body is crucial for keeping these byproducts to the liver and kidneys — where they can be filtered out.
You don’t have to resort to fancy detoxification methods, like colon cleansing. Instead, a (non-plastic) water bottle filled with filtered water should do the trick. Just make sure that you refill it multiple times per day!
If regular water gets too boring or repetitive, try replacing your water with green tea or lemon water. Our Digestion Lemonade Superfood Powder features refreshing lemon along with chicory for digestive support, amla for adaptogenic properties, and dandelion for overall digestive health.
Green tea contains an amino acid called l-theanine that can help soothe feelings of stress, and lemon water contains antioxidants that can help support your body’s ability to fight oxidative stress.
For an added bonus, you can add turmeric to your lemon water. Not only does turmeric add a zingy flavor, but the curcumin in turmeric can assist your body in handling stress and soothing irritation.
2. Algae
Algae are a diverse family of plants that live in oceans, seas, and lakes.
Chlorella and spirulina are our favorite algae because that make for the ultimate Superfood duo. They’re full of antioxidants, and they also contain an impressive amount of vitamins and minerals.
But we’re most impressed with the detoxifying capabilities of these plants. For instance, chlorella is known to support liver health, while spirulina may support the body’s ability to remove impurities.
And getting your daily fix of these Superfoods couldn’t be easier. Find spirulina in our Detox Greens Superfood Powder, which you can blend into a smoothie or mix with a glass of water.
3. Broccoli
Broccoli is a Superfood that belongs to the cruciferous vegetables family, which makes it a cousin to Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower. Not only is it a versatile veggie that tastes delicious, but it has one of the highest fiber contents in the plant world. Its high fiber content can help your digestive tract to eliminate waste — an important part of your body’s detox processes.
As a bonus, broccoli is also packed with antioxidants such as vitamin C. These help to fight free radicals — one of the main causes of oxidative damage in the body. Broccoli is also packed with sulforaphane, a phytonutrient that can support your body’s natural detox process.
And you don’t have to consume pounds of broccoli to reap its benefits. Just a cup of this Superfood is enough to get your daily serving.
4. Avocado
Avocados are delicious, so we really don’t need much convincing to eat them. But they’re also full of many different antioxidants. This includes glutathione, which is known to support liver function.
Oh, and like broccoli, avocados are chock-full of fiber — giving your digestive system the extra boost it needs to eliminate waste.
Not a fan of savory avocado dishes? No problem!
Make a sweet treat by blending a ripe avocado with coconut cream and cocoa powder, which you can find in our Cacao Clarity Superfood Powder.
5. Salmon
If you’re thinking about what to have for dinner, consider the world’s favorite fish: salmon.
We know full well that salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for heart health, brain function, a stable mood, and so much more.
Omega-3s are considered essential because the body can’t produce them on its own — that’s why you must get it from whole food sources (or fish oil supplements). Getting enough of these fatty acids can help your body carry out its functions at the cellular level, support healthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels, reduce risk factors for heart disease, and support your body’s natural detox process.
If salmon’s not your thing, you can also get omega-3s from chia seeds, flaxseeds, and walnuts.
6. Wild Blueberries
Small but mighty, wild blueberries pack a powerful punch.
Thanks to their high antioxidant content, which is what gives them their rich hue, wild blueberries can help to neutralize free radicals. This ensures that your body isn’t fighting oxidative stress and frees your immune system up to attend to other important functions, such as detoxification.
These yummy berries are also rich in fiber, which can support a healthy digestive system.
You can eat wild blueberries fresh or frozen, sprinkled on top of yogurt, or blended into a smoothie. For some more berries in your life, add a scoop of our Berry Healthy Skin Superfood Powder into a glass of water.
7. High-Quality Sleep
This whole time we’ve been focusing on detoxing foods, but it isn’t only what you eat that’s important.
High-quality sleep is incredibly important for your body’s detox processes. Research shows that while you sleep, your brain literally flushes out waste byproducts. This includes amyloid plaques that are linked to cognitive decline.
Sleep is also when most of your body’s rest and repair happens so that it can function as it should throughout the day.
On the other hand, when you’re sleep-deprived, inflammation skyrockets. This can affect literally every organ system, interfering with your body’s natural detoxification processes.
So, make sure to get enough sleep. If you wake up feeling groggy and often need naps (or huge amounts of coffee) during the day, then take a look at your sleeping habits and see what needs to be fixed.
8. Sweaty Workouts
As mentioned above, your body’s skin is extensively involved in the detoxification process. By flushing sweat from your pores, your body is able to get rid of many toxins.
Well, intense exercise — one in which you sweat plenty — can help you supercharge this process.
But that’s not all. Exercise is also known to reduce inflammation in the body. By reducing inflammation, your body’s system can function more properly, helping you to detox as you should.
If you already exercise, great! If not, try to get about 150 minutes of moderate intensity (or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity) workouts per week.
Takeaways
If you have negative associations with the word “detox,” you’re not alone. Juice cleanses, slimming teas, and restrictive diets have made us associate this crucial process with something that leads to deprivation, hunger, and weakness.
But your body already has a sophisticated detoxification process in place, so all you have to do is support it with the right foods and lifestyle choices.
Make sure to drink plenty of water, get in sweaty workouts, sleep until you’re well-rested, and consume plenty of detox Superfoods. And let your miraculous body take care of the rest!
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