When it comes to longevity, great health and cancer prevention, the best foods for detox are vegetables. Vegetables provide dietary fiber, are low in fat, contain a lot of vitamins and minerals, and are packed with cancer-fighting substances.
The cancer fighting and disease preventing substances found in vegetables are called phytonutrients or phytochemicals. Here is a list of vegetables that are great sources for these nutrients:
Tomatoes contain lycopene, which has been shown to reduce the risk of ovarian, cervical and prostate cancer. Best concentrated sources of lycopene are tomato sauce, pasta sauce and ketchup.
Spinach, kale, chard and collard greens are packed with the phytonutrient lutein and also contains a variety of antioxidants. Spinach is good for preventing cancer of the liver, colon, ovaries.
Red, yellow and orange bell peppers and yellow squash. These contain carotenes, lutein, cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin and lots of Vitamin C.
Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and Brussel sprouts contain sulforaphane, a plant chemical that has been shown to reduce the risk of breast, skin and stomach cancer. The most potent form of sulforaphane are broccoli sprouts.
Garlic, onions, leeks, chives and shallots contain allicin, which reduces the risk of stomach, esophagus and breast cancer.
The best detoxifying, cancer-prevention diet is one that includes the brightly colored vegetables. Go with this simple rule when choosing vegetables for detox or just general health: The deeper and richer the color, the more dense in nutrients, antioxidants and phytochemical. When you can, always buy organic.