Harmful vs. Healing: Which Foods Help Your Body Perform the Best?
A staggering36% of American adults are classified as obese. Another 9.4% have diabetes. It’s estimated by the CDC that80% of U.S. adults don’t exercise enough. These statistics all tell different sides of the same story: we don’t treat our bodies well.
This doesn’t have to be the case. There are so many ways for us to get and stay healthy. One of the simplest, and one of our personal favorites at The Natural, is to eat food that nourishes our bodies. Of course, this is easier said than done--which is why we’ve put together this article.
Different foods have different impacts on different parts of our bodies. Some foods are almost perfectly designed for immune boosting. Others are energy powerhouses. Still, many more help improve the functioning of the brain, heart, and organs.
Find a helpful guide to different types of food that help your body perform its best below. Don’t forget to check out our weight management supplements if you want to really help your body reach its peak potential!
Detoxing Your Body
Detoxing and cleansing your body is hot right now and for good reason. It’s a simple way to help rid your body of toxins, processed food, and other harsh chemicals. It’s also a great way to help avoid developing diseases down the line.
What foods are best for detoxing your body? Well, we’re big fans of leafy greens like wheatgrass, kale, spinach, arugula, and others. Thechlorophyll in these, helps remove toxins from your body. The result is a stronger, healthier you.
Garlic is another detox favorite. It helps kick your liver into overdrive and start producing enzymes. In turn,these enzymes help remove toxins from your digestive system. Citric acid is another great way to help cleanse your digestive system. Whether you’re drinking plenty of OJ or takingcitric supplements, you’re helping your liver and kidneys do their jobs.
Mung beans are one of the best on the market for a detox powerhouse. They help clean out almost all major systems in your body, including your blood, liver, and kidneys. If you want to really go the extra mile, you can even cook up an entiremung bean cleanse!
Protecting Your Immune System
An apple a day might keep the doctor away, but you’re going to have to start thinking bigger if you really want to protect your immune system. From red bell peppers to ginger, to making sure you’re getting enoughimmune boosting supplements, they all predict you will get your body to optimal performance.
Red bell peppers are pretty underrated as far as superfoods go. Not only do they contain twice as much vitamin C as citrus, but they’re packed with beta carotene. This means you’ll help your immune system stay healthy, help your skin and eyes stay soft and smooth, and feel better overall. We call that a win-win-win.
Almonds are rich invitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant. It helps eliminate free radicals, bacteria, viruses, and even makes your blood cells wider and less likely to clot. As if all that wasn’t enough, vitamin E helps your cells interact, which leads to using your body’s resources more efficiently.
Finally, turmeric and its main chemicalcurcumin offer some serious immune system benefits. It is naturally anti-inflammatory, blocks free radicals, increases your body’s production of natural antioxidants, and improves the health of your heart.
This is only scratching the tip of the iceberg for beneficial foods, but it’s more than enough to get you started. So, what are you waiting for? Start eating healthy and taking yourvitamins and minerals today!