By: Tamara Jacobi

As the fall approaches, now is a good time to start thinking about treating your body to a gentle cleanse.  The changing seasons often inspire a fresh, healthy start.  Yet, for many an intense detox might be too much to take on. The good news? There are some simple (and tasty!) foods that you can include in your diet regularly that support you body with gentle and natural cleansing. Be sure to add these 5 foods to your fall shopping list!

1. Lemons

Starting your day with warm water and lemon juice is one of the easiest and effective things you can do to assist your body’s natural detoxification processes.  A squeeze of lemon juice is a powerful way to get your health back on track!  Lemons jump-start digestion by stimulating the release of enzymes and Vitamin C helps convert toxins into a water-soluble form that can be easily eliminated from the body. Lemons also help stimulate the liver and purify our blood.

2. Garlic

Raw garlic is truly amazing. It has powerful antiviral, antiseptic and antibiotic properties. Garlic helps stimulate the liver into producing detoxification enzymes that help filter toxins from the digestive system. Add garlic to stir-fry, salad dressings, soups, etc.

2. Beets

Beets are beautiful, not only because of their deep red/pink color, but also because they’re superstars nutritionally! They are full of nutrients and are a great source of vitamins B3, B6 and C, plus beta-carotene, magnesium, calcium, zinc, and iron. They assist our liver and gall bladder in breaking down toxins, and their fiber is great for digestion and elimination.  Try adding some shredded raw beets to your salad for a cleansing blast.

3. Cilantro

Hooray for this amazing herb! Cilantro is the best for ridding the body of heavy metals (the bad kind that can lead to depression, cancer, hormone and thyroid problems, and lots more). The chemical compounds in cilantro actually bind to these toxins, loosening them from the blood, tissues, and organs and assisting with their elimination from the body.

4. Apples

Apples also give us lots of fiber and nutrients and help stimulate bile production, which the liver uses to release toxins. The soluble fiber in apples, pectin, is helpful in removing heavy metals and food additives from our bodies. Be sure to eat only organic apples, as conventional apples are some of the most heavily-sprayed foods around.

5. Green Veggies

When you think cleansing, it’s important to look to chlorophyll. Chlorophyll rids the body of environmental toxins, heavy metals, herbicides, and pesticides. Chlorophyll hides in green foods — leafy greens, broccoli, cucumbers, celery, sprouts, the list goes on. Greens are the essential building blocks of any healthy and vibrant diet.

Ready to get your health back on track? Check out my free guide to start listening to your body.  The fall is a great time for a fresh start and I’m here to be your guide!

Tamara Jacobi, Certified Health Coach

Tamara Jacobi is a certified health and nutrition coach who received her training at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She is the founder of Jungle Girl Health, www.junglegirlhealth.com, offering health coaching over the phone to individuals who are ready to feel and look their best. By using whole foods for healing and lifestyle balancing techniques, Tamara helps people understand how to heal and nourish their bodies completely.

Tamara leads an adventurous and active lifestyle, dividing her time between the Colorado Rocky Mountains and the Mexican Pacific coastline.  In Mexico, she is the owner and manager of the Tailwind jungle lodge, a certified sustainable jungle lodge and adventure tour company just north of Puerto Vallarta, www.tailwindjunglelodge.com. Tamara also guides adventure tours for the Tailwind jungle lodge including sea kayaking, stand up paddle boarding and hiking. In her free time she spends as much time as possible playing outside. She is a passionate skier, road biker, trail runner and stand up paddle boarder.