Psyllium

This is a plant that’s rich in soluble fibre, like oat bran, but is far more versatile. It mops up toxins (cholesterol too) and helps clear them out. Stir powdered psyllium, into juice to help cleanse your colon, or have psyllium-fortified Bran Buds for breakfast.

Organic Green Leafy Vegetables

Eat them raw, throw them into a broth, add them to juices. Their chlorophyll helps swab out environmental toxins (heavy metals, pesticides) and protects the liver. Great detox vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, broccoli sprouts and onions. Artichokes are well known for their liver detoxifying properties. Also recommended are beetroot and red and green vegetables.

Organic or Home Grown Lemons

You need to keep the fluids flowing to wash out the body and lemons are ideal for this. Its vitamin C, considered the detox vitamin, helps convert toxins into a water-soluble form that’s easily flushed away. As I mentioned, I add lemon into warm water for a refreshing all day drink.

Organic or Home Grown Watercress

Put a handful into salads, soups, and sandwiches. The peppery little green leaves have a diuretic effect that helps move things through your system. And cress is rich in minerals too.

Organic or Home Grown Garlic

Garlic has been used for its beneficial effects for thousands of years. It is a blood cleanser, a natural antibiotic it also reduces blood fats thinning the blood and lowering blood pressure. In addition to the bulb’s cardio benefits, it activates liver enzymes that help filter out junk.

To avoid the lingering smell when you eat raw garlic, simply peel the garlic clove, cut it lengthways and remove the heart (which is sometimes green). If you prefer to avoid the smell of garlic altogether, there is a multitude of garlic supplements in the health food shops to choose from.

Organic Green Tea

This antioxidant-rich brew is one of the healthiest ways to get more fluids into your system. As a bonus, it also contains catechins, which speed up liver activity.

Organic Sesame Seeds

They’re credited with protecting liver cells from the damaging effects of alcohol and other chemicals and best of all, we stock delicious organic sesame seeds.

Organic Cabbage

There are two main types of detoxifying enzymes in the liver and the good news is that this potent veggie helps activate both of them. Coleslaw anyone?

Fruits, fruits, fruits

They’re full of almost all the good things above: vitamin C, fibre, nutritious fluids, and all kinds of antioxidants. All fresh fruit is good for detoxing provided it is eaten on its own, not before, with, or after food. Besides, what is tastier than the likes of apples, pears, oranges, grapefruit, bananas, raisins, pineapple, mango, kiwi fruit, raspberries, strawberries, blackcurrants, melon, naartjies, nectarines and peaches.

Coriander

Some studies have shown that the leaves of the coriander plant can accelerate the excretion of mercury, lead and aluminium from the body. This delicious herb, when added to food, can greatly contribute in the detox process. It is available all year round.

Echinacea

As a well known lymphatic cleanser, this Dandelion root is a tonic, a liver and blood cleanser, diuretic and it filters the toxins.

Cayenne Pepper

Purifies the blood, increases fluid elimination and encourages sweating.

Ginger Root

Stimulates blood circulation and sweating.

Liquorice Root

Is a potent detoxifier and it also balances biochemical functions and acts as a mild laxative.

Parsley Leaf

Is a diuretic that flushes the kidneys.

Red Clover Blossoms

A blood cleanser that’s very useful during convalescence and recovery.

Top Tip

You’ll find many of these herbs in our great selection of Pukka Teas.