Are you feeling as bloated as me? Granted, I wasn’t too kind to my body over the long weekend — too many empty carbs, not enough nutrient-dense whole foods — but a semi-debaucherous long weekend is the perfect excuse to clean up your eating act…
Lemon
A ton of nutritionists recommend kick-starting your day with a big glass of lukewarm water with a fresh lemon squeezed into it. The reason: it fires up your digestive system, flushes the liver/kidneys and can alkalize the blood. TRY IT: Drink lemon water in the a.m., or add lemon to your tea, spritz over salad, or add to smoothies
Parsley
Not just a garnish, this antioxidant powerhouse also acts as a natural diuretic (translation: it de-bloats!). Plus it’s packed with vitamins K, A and C. TRY IT: Add parsley to your mango smoothie or try this fab Fattoush Salad
Seaweed
The natural ocean detoxer does a body good too. Thanks to iodine and mega minerals, it helps filter heavy metals and regulates metabolism. TRY IT: Crumble dried seaweed over steamed broccoli and brown rice or try kelp noodles in place of pasta.
Green tea
Potent antioxidants called catechins found in green tea have been linked to a boosted production of key detox enzymes. TRY IT: Make Minty Iced Green Tea (steep tea, add mint, let cool and serve with ice) or how about Iced Lavender Green Tea
Papaya
Papaya is packed with papain, an enzyme that aids in digestion and may boost nutrient absorption. It can also help with heartburn and acid reflux. TRY IT: Papaya Caprese Salad or Papaya-Ginger Smoothie
