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What Fruits & Vegetables Should Be Used for a Cleanse?

Consuming fresh, organic fruits and vegetables regularly is ideal for optimal health -- and even more advantageous when eaten in mass quantities for a detoxifying cleanse. Chemical exposure is unavoidable but our bodies are equipped with systems designed to eliminate toxins. Anytime we consciously aid that process, by eating fruits and vegetables, we're contributing to our well-being and overall health.

  1. How to Help

    • According to Dr. Ben Kim, it's important to provide the body with proper nutrients while cleansing to minimize the workload of our digestive organs. It's not the fruits and vegetables themselves that are responsible for the outcome of a cleanse; they are merely assisting the body to do what it already does naturally. Consistently bombarding our bodies with unhealthy food, causes it to be overburdened and thus unable to efficiently eliminate waste. Eating plant-based foods, on the other hand, that are nutrient-dense and full of fiber will adequately aid in the flushing of toxins -- while simultaneously maintaining the body's need for nutrients.

    Fruit For All

    • In his book, "8 Weeks to Optimum Health," Dr. Andrew Weil stresses the importance of consuming fruits (of all types) during a cleanse. Watermelon is excellent for keeping the body hydrated -- which is crucial to any detox. Apples are full of phytochemicals and antioxidants -- which specifically enhance liver function. Also, being high in fiber, apples promote the swift removal of waste. Berries are loaded with fiber, antioxidants and a host of vitamins and minerals, making them ideal for cleansing. Lemons fight inflammation and congestion and convert toxins into water soluble forms of waste, which reliably aids in the effective removal of contaminants.

    Leafy Greens

    • Any leafy, dark green vegetable aids in the cleansing process. Kale, watercress, parsley and spinach all supply chlorophyll -- which encourages intestinal purification through the flushing of all sorts of toxins -- heavy metals, pesticides, and more. While being rich in minerals (like phosphorous, magnesium and potassium) watercress increases cleansing with its diuretic properties.

    The Broccoli Bunch

    • Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, and brussel sprouts, are considered cancer-fighting foods. They can be consumed raw -- or lightly steamed. Raw is always preferable in a cleanse, as you receive the full benefits of the vegetable's vitamin and mineral content; when food is cooked many of the essential nutrients are lost. Either way, this collection of vegetables is a powerhouse of disease-fighting properties and fiber -- which aids the the body in proper elimination.

    Root Vegetables

    • All root vegetables are high in starch; starch is converted to sugar in the body, and high amounts of sugar are not recommended for specific types of cleansing -- or for excessive consumption. Beets and carrots, however, are usually the exception. Beets are powerful liver, kidney, and blood purifiers and carrots are loaded with beta-carotene, contain anti-cancer properties, and flush out toxins. Both of these root vegetables are beneficial for any type of cleanse.

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