I’m a huge fan of regular efforts to keep the body happy and healthy. Actions to proactively facilitate the body’s detoxification process need not be constrained to a yearly detox program, although an annual or semi-annual more intensive cleanse can be a great component of a healthy lifestyle. Today I’d like to share a simple, real-food recipe for daily detox. If you’re currently participating in Dr. Reddy’s 21-day detox, this recipe fits seamlessly into the cleanse, and can also be regularly incorporated into your diet post-cleanse. Remember, the cleanse isn’t meant to be something you quickly abandon on day 22, but should teach you some new habits you’d like to maintain.
So today I’d like to share a simple, real-food recipe for daily detox. Whether you’re participating in DSR’s cleanse or are simply looking for an way to add more powerful nutrients into your daily diet, this recipe can be easily incorporated.
You don’t need an expensive juicer or vitamix… Most high powered blenders will do the trick. Simply chop 1 apple (I used 1/2 a green, 1/2 a fuji), 1/2 whole lemon peel and all, 1 inch turmeric root, 1 inch chopped ginger, and 1 cup of water, and blend! (Try to use organic ingredients of at all possible). I like to drink this first thing in the morning on an empty stomach before breakfast, but is also great as an afternoon pick-me-up.
This little potion is great for improving energy, the immune system, digestion, and lots more. Here’s why:
Apple: These crisp, sweet fruits are known and loved for their delicious taste and health-promoting properties, thanks to their high levels of Vitamin C, B-complex vitamins, dietary fiber, and phytonutrients. This powerful combination helps to improve neurological health, reduce risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease, maintain a healthy weight, lower levels of bad (LDL) cholesterol, and ward off a variety of cancers.
Lemon: As an excellent source of powerful antioxidants and vitamin C, lemons fight the formation of free radicals that cause cell damage and cancer. Its high levels of phytonutrients and antioxidants also boost the immune system, play a role in maintaining healthy complexion, keep the cardiovascular system healthy, reduce risk of stroke, protect against arthritis, activate liver-boosting enzymes, and improve mineral absorption.
Ginger: This root has been used for centuries for its many medicinal and therapeutic properties. Traditionally, it has been used to alleviate GI distress and improve digestion, but more recently research has shown it to have powerful anti-inflammatory (rivaling NSAIDS), antioxidant, and immune-boosting properties. Studies have also shown that ginger plays an important role in detoxification by protecting against toxic environmental chemicals and reversing liver damage. The warming effects of this powerful root also improve fat metabolism and promote healthy sweating, which is essential for your body’s natural detoxification process as well as fighting off infections.
Turmeric: This bright root has been used across the globe for its many nutritional and medicinal properties. It is commonly added to dishes for it’s unique flavor, but has also been relied upon for thousands of years to treat a variety of health conditions. Curcumin and its other phytonutrients improve blood glucose and regulates insulin, heal digestive tract damage, help mitigate harmful affects of carcinogens in the diet and environment, improve liver function, protect against alzheimers, reduce the risk of cancer, and reverse damage to cellular DNA. Turmeric is also a powerful immune booster, thanks to its high levels of a substance called lipopolysaccharide, which stimulates the immune system, as well as it’s other antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral agents.
Now that’s something you can raise your glass to. Cheers!