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.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Fish For Your Heart?

Cutting back on red meat is a common recommendation for both health and sustainability. What’s less clear is what we should replace the meat with. A recent study looked at this and the results may surprise you. If not red meat, what? Red meat appears on many lists of foods to eat less of due mostly to its saturated fat and cholesterol content, and the fact that we tend to eat too much of it. A recent study looked at what we should consider substituting for red meat when we follow the advice to cut back. Of all of the substitutions the study looked at, one stood out as the best choice – fish high in omega-3s. The fatty fish showed more benefits for heart health than poultry, unprocessed meat and even lean fish. Is fish safe to eat? Fish, especially the kind that gives us omega-3s, has long been considered a healthy choice. Warnings related to contamination by mercury and other toxins has left many people wondering if fish is safe to eat. For most people, the benefits of eating fish far ...

Cutting the Salt!

Salt is found in more food products than you may realize. The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that American's should consume fewer than 2,300 milligrams (mg) per day of salt (this is slightly less than 1 teaspoon of salt). Adults age 51 and older, African Americans of any age and people with high blood pressure, diabetes or chronic kidney disease should reduce their sodium intake to 1,500 mg a day. These new dietary guidelines emphasize the importance of making meals and snacks from scratch versus choosing processed foods too often. The most common salts available are table salt, sea salt and kosher salt with the major differences among these being taste, texture, and processing. Kosher and sea salt have a larger course grain providing more air space, which in turn provides less sodium when used in place of table salt. The chefs in our kitchen across campus use kosher salt in their recipes to provide an overall reduced amount of sodium. Using items lik...

Superfood: Tomatoes

Fruit or vegetable? It is a fruit that works well as a vegetable! Tomatoes are considered a type of superfood because they are rich in lots of great nutrients. They contain lycopenes, which is an antioxidant that offers a protective effect in the body. Tomatoes are also a great source of vitamin A, E and C, which means tomatoes contain even more antioxidants than just lycopenes. Incorporate tomatoes and tomato products to help boost your immune system as well as promote skin and eye health!    Good News: You should eat pizza!!   Through research at the Harvard School of Public Health, it was determined that consumption of oil- and tomato-based products -- specifically tomato and pizza sauce – there was an association with cardiovascular benefits.  So, choosing 1-2 slices of pizza paired with a side salad can be a healthy meal option.