Skip to main content

10 Healthy Foods to Beat Those Halloween Treats


Guest post by Northeastern graduate student Meghann Jurkowski

Halloween is an exciting time of year filled with tricks, treats, costume parties and loads of candy. It's always fun to take part in the festive activities and taste all the Halloween goodies that surround us but sometimes we indulge a bit too much. If you have been to one too many parties or ate a little bit too much this holiday, leaving you feeling sluggish, overly full, sick or just plain creepy, you should consider cleansing your body with some detoxing foods. It is completely possible to give your body a cleanse, ridding yourself of those Halloween toxins without fasting! Here are 10 detox foods to get you back to normal...

1. Leafy Greens
Leafy greens, including kale and arugula, are loaded with vitamins, minerals and some fiber to restore what our bodies need to run properly while pushing out the bad. Greens like kale also have detoxing abilities.

2. Lemons
One of the most potent detox foods, lemons are loaded with vitamin C which helps to restore acid-base balance in the body. This citrus fruit also aids in flushing out toxins in the body. Starting each day with a warm cup of water mixed with the juice of a lemon is a great way to cleanse the body and get your digestive system clear and ready for the day.

3. Beets
Packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber, beets act as an anti-inflammatory, protect the cells from free radicals, and aid in detoxification of the body.

4. Garlic
One of the best detoxing foods, contains compounds that help fight toxic residues in the digestive system, while increasing glutathione production which is needed to rid the body of certain toxins.

5. Omega-3s
These healthy fats from foods like avocados, almonds, and other nuts help lubricate the intestinal walls and promote the release of bile from the gallbladder - both aiding in the elimination of toxins from the body.

6. Green Tea
Contains a strong antioxidant that increases liver function while protecting against liver damage.

7. Ginger
A natural anti-inflammatory food, this root is also one that aids in detoxification.

8. Pomegranates and Blueberries
These fresh fruits are packed with vitamins and minerals as well as antioxidants. The antioxidant properties of these fruits protect our cells from the damage of free radicals.

9. Raw Vegetables
Not only are vegetables like brussels sprouts, broccoli, artichokes, and cabbage loaded with vitamins and minerals our bodies need to stay healthy but they also have great detoxing properties.

10. Water
It is very important to rehydrate and keep the body hydrated. Drink lots of water to do this and help flush out toxins.

From all of us here at Northeastern Dining, have a safe, happy and healthy Halloween!

-------------------

Meghann Jurkowski is a graduate student of nutritionist Christine Clark in the MS in Applied Nutrition program through the College of Professional Studies at Northeastern University.

Nutritionist Christine Clark works with Dining Services to provide you with tips and techniques to stay healthy during your time at Northeastern. If you have any further questions about this topic or are looking for more information about any other nutrition or diet topic, such as food allergies or sports nutrition, please contact her at christine.clark2@compass-usa.com or call UHCS at 617-373-2772 for an appointment.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

SNOW DAY! And 4 Snowy Food Facts

Hello Huskies! Hope you've been staying safe and warm while enjoying your snow day. Changes to our hours of operation are being posted to our website as well as our Twitter and Facebook pages so be sure to check those out for updates throughout this snowy Tuesday. With the serious info out of the way, we're here to have some fun too. In between Netflix binge-watching sessions, how about some interesting snow-related food facts? 1. Hostess Sno Balls are actually upside-down Hostess CupCakes You know them as those pink or white shredded coconut and marshmallow delicacies, but since the 1950s, the inner cakes have been manufactured exactly the same way as their chocolate icing-covered CupCake counterparts. 1 2. Canada is much more than snow Our snowy neighbor to the north is actually the 5th largest agricultural exporter in the world. Canada also produces 85% of the world's maple syrup so whether you enjoy it on French toast at brunch or spaghetti during Christmas, there...
Post a Comment
Read more

Healthy Alternatives While Celebrating Culinary Diversity

with campus executive chef Tom Barton Our latest Menus of Change principle is "Celebrating Cultural Diversity and Discovery" and over the next few weeks our residential dining halls will be featuring menu items that celebrate the cultural diversity of our associates. As I was reviewing recipes in preparation for these events at both International Village and Stetson, it occurred to me that some of the ingredients in the traditional recipes could be swapped out for healthier alternatives while also remaining faithful to tradition. Here are some examples of ways to make recipes even a little bit healthier (which means you can enjoy them even more often!): Instead of using butter why not use a fat free margarine? Canola, safflower or olive oils could also be substituted Rather than using whole milk try a skim, evaporated skim or even plain nonfat yogurt can be used Instead of using whole milk cheeses, look for ones that are made with part skim Low fat or fat free sour cream can ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sticking to Your New Year’s Resolutions

With assistance from Northeastern graduate student Melissa Pryputniewicz A new year brings the hope and promise of new starts. This makes it the perfect time for people to make resolutions to change certain behaviors. But even with good intentions many people don’t succeed in keeping their resolutions. A study in the Journal of Clinical Psychology found that only half of the people who made a resolution stuck with it after six months. So you may be asking, what are the keys to success? Calvin and Hobbes , Bill Waterson Make Resolutions Realistic and Specific Many people make big resolutions like "I want to lose weight," or "I want to eat healthier." While these goals highlight positive changes, they are not very specific. Instead trying reframing your goals into more specific terms. Not only will this help you measure when you have achieved a goal, but it also gives you a clear plan of action for starting to work on the resolution. Break Big Goals Into Smaller Ones ...
Post a Comment
Read more