Spring Cleaning, Detoxification of Your Body

Your body is a delight to toxins. You are continuously inhaling airborne particles and consuming a wide variety of foods, drinks.  There are too many sources of contaminants in the air, food and water. Junk food, stress, vehicles emissions, cleaning substances and more others are increasing the toxic level in your body. Maintaining a diet high in detox foods is one of the best ways to keep your general heath. However, with even the best diet toxins creep in.

You should start your detoxification diet with avoiding processed foods, alcohol, caffeinated beverages and sweets. At the beginning you must increase your water intake by 1 or 2 cups. Citrus fruits; lemon, satsuma, orange, grapefruit and lime are essential in the detoxification process. They are offering vitamins including high level of vitamin C, minerals. Their antioxidant effect helps to get rid off free radicals from your body. Lemon helps with your digestion so you can drink a cup of hot water with lemon added in order to prepare your digestive system for that day’s work. Among with lemon juice you should drink 1 or 2 cups of green tea per day, this superfood powers detox. The effect is better if you mix the green tea with cucumber. Green vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, sprouts and kale are nutrient-dense foods providing wide range of minerals; calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and selenium. They are full of vitamins; vitamin A, vitamin C, range of vitamin B-s, folates and pantothenic acid.  Many detox diets list garlic as a crucial piece of the puzzle. The reason is that garlic boosts up the immune system as well as helping out the liver. Some detox diets require you to consume ginger root. If you add grated ginger to hot water makes the water taste better. Ginger has medicinal value dates back to ancient Chinese civilizations, and one that is still believed to offer many health benefits. Turmeric has huge healthy effect on the liver. You can drink it as a tea or sprinkle it on you daily food and smoothie. Give your liver a big boost with cleansing action of watercress.  Add olive oil to your smoothie and your salad dressings in order to generate your liver to get rid off its gallstones.

Make your detox plan that greatly works for you and follow your scheme daily.

Health Benefits of Turnips

Carved turnip “jack-o’-lantern” (man with a lantern) was used for Halloween as a British tradition dates from the 17^th century. Nowadays it is replaced by carved pumpkin. The turnips are healthy, autumn food.

Rutabagas- their other name-  are roots that belong to the family of cruciferous vegetables, other members of this family are: broccoli, cauliflower and kale. Turnips have rich nutritional values: proteins, omega 3 fatty acids, dietary fibres, small amounts of carbohydrates, minerals; potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, and phosphorous and vitamins; A,C,E,K, B1,B2,B3,B5,B6. Rutabaga provides only a small amount of calories, so it is perfect for weight watchers.

As you can see turnips have number of essential nutrients that our body needs for proper functioning. Its high-level potassium content helps to lower blood pressure preventing heart attack and strokes.  Turnips improves our blood circulation, lowers cholesterol level due to its omega 3 fatty acids content.  The fibres present in turnips can help to bulk up the stool and move it through the gut while promoting more efficient uptake of nutrients. Calcium, in turnips, can help aid in the growth and repair of bone matter throughout our body. It contains high level of vitamin C, acting as an antioxidant boosts your immune system, prevents cancer and heart disease. Vitamin K and omega 3 fatty acids lower inflammation in your body.

While eating turnip raw will not harm your health, you might find the root more palatable after it has been cooked. Before cooking or serving turnips, wash them under running water and scrub them thoroughly with a brush to remove any dirt or fungicide residues. Peel them and cut away their greens. The cooked turnip cubes can be mashed and seasoned. Other way you can roast in the oven with parsnips. The grated raw turnips can be ingredients of your salad with grated raw beetroots and carrots.

Diet for Preventing Dehydration

Ms H

It is time to be prepared for the hot summer days. In this place you learn about the symptoms of dehydration, the action to prevent dehydration and the essential foods for keeping hydrated.

Symptoms of dehydration:

·      increased thirst.

·      dry mouth.

·      tired or sleepy.

·      decreased urine output.

·      headache.

·      dry skin. And

·      dizziness.

Action to prevent dehydration:

·      Drink plenty of water. Take a container of water or sports drink with you when you exercise, and try to drink at least every 15 to 20 minutes.

·      Avoid high protein diet

·      Avoid any alcohol, they increase dehydration

·      Wear lightweight and light colour clothing.

Foods that can contribute to your fluid intake:

·      Cucumber contains 95% of water. It also provides you with dietary fibre vitamin C, potassium and magnesium. Example: a cup of cucumber slices is nearly as thirst quenching as a glass of water.

·      Strawberries contain 91% of water, vitamin C also provide folate, a vitamin B that’s essential for the healthy growth of new cells.

·      Watermelon contains 92% of water. It is a good source of vitamin C and, also has lycopene, an antioxidant that may help protect against heart disease and some types of cancer.

·      Salad greens contain more than 90% of water and nutrients such as dietary fibre, vitamin C, vitamin B6, beta- carotene, vitamin K, thiamine, potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron.

·      Regular plain yogurt is 85% to 88% water. You’ll get calcium, vitamin B12 riboflavin and probiotics.

Recipes:

Cucumber salad:

Ingredients:

Cucumber	1 sliced
Lettuce	sliced
Ruccola	Handful
Roasted buckwheat	½ cup
Pumpkin seeds	½ cup
Yogurt	½ cup

Melon and strawberry salad:

Ingredients :

Strawberries halved	200g
Melon cubed	200g
Lemon juice freshly squeezed	½
Walnuts	Handful