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It’s time for Spring Cleaning!
And as much as our houses are in need of it, our body or our temples may need some Spring Cleaning as well.
During the winter, many of us eat foods that may not be as healthy for us, but taste really good. Or we may have drunk alcohol more than we normally would. Or we have gone through some medical or ART or fertility procedure and took some western medicine medications. Regardless of what we have done this past winter, it’s a whole new season and it may be time to do some Spring Cleaning or a Detox for the Body.
Below is a list of Antioxidant Powerhouses, which may help with you in this process:
Please note the following:
These are healthy suggestions. Please consult your Inner Doctor or your Allopathic or Naturapathic doctor, before following using these foods.
By Inner Doctor, I mean that you get to pay attention to how these foods feel in YOUR body, and how they may affect you mentally and emotionally. Maybe use your intuition or muscle test yourself to see if these suggestions will work for you.
Unless you are growing your own food or buying from foreign countries that don’t produce GMO products, it’s best to buy organic food products.
Antioxidant Powerhouses
These foods are flush with vitamin C and E and beta-carotene, and flavonoids, which neutralize free radicals that contribute to the onset of aging and disease.
Dark Beans – Small red, pinto beans and kidney beans are excellent source of antioxidants, with small red beans topping the list. Remember to soak your beans for at least 6-8 hours. And if you are looking to take the gassy-ness out of your beans then I have heard that soaking them for 24 hours can help with this.
Dark Chocolate and Cacao – Dark Chocolate (at least 70%) and unsweetened cocoa powder are rich in antioxidants. Heating chocolate destroys some of its healing properties. I love Lily’s brand sugar-free dark chocolate with stevia and coconut! Pretty darn yummy!
Pecan – These nuts are rich in vitamin e, an antioxidant that helps prevent cell damage.
Red Grapes – For a powerful dose of antioxidants, choose red or purple grape varieties such as Concord over the green varieties.
Apple – Phytochemicals called polyphenols make apples a good source of antioxidants. But don’t remove the skin – it contains substantially higher levels of antioxidants than the flesh.
Plum – The high vitamin C content and phenolic compounds in this fruit provide a significant antioxidant source.
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil – This heart healthy oil has strong concentrations of polyphenols, which have both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Berries – These fruits are among the highest in disease-fighting antioxidants. Their rich colors are the result of flavonoids, the phytochemicals that can counter cell damage.
Winter Squash – These gourds get their incredible antioxidant properties from beta-carotene and vitamin C. It is spring, so you may not be able to get these still. And if you can, I highly recommend these grounding veggies.
Carrot – Take the cue from their color: Carrots contain more carotenoids – antioxidants that help protect against certain cancers, heart disease, and cataracts – than any other vegetable. Beta-carotene is also converted in the body to vitamin A, which is essential for healthy skin and vision, and helps support immunity.
Sweet Potato – These brightly colored roots are packed with the antioxidant beta-carotene, which the body converts to retinol, or vitamin A. They also have anti-inflammatory properties.
Kiwi – Loaded with vitamins C and E and lutein, this vine-growing fruit delivers a whopping dose of antioxidants and has been shown to nourish the friendly bacteria in the gut.
Clove – High levels of phenolic compounds give this spice antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Sweet Cherries – Rich in quercetin, a powerful antioxidant that helps modulate inflammation and also contains significant amounts of melatonin, which helps with insomnia.
Dark, Leafy Greens – Rich in antioxidants and folate, these greens also help decrease inflammation – plus, their chlorophyll content supports the body’s ability to detoxify. Home-grown Lacinato or Dino Kale is the best!
Resource: Clean Slate, A cookbook and guide – Reset Your Health, Detox your Body and Feel Your Best