There are two important reasons that I am always looking for new and tasty ways to incorporate detoxifying foods into my family’s diet. The first is obvious, really. We live in a toxic world, and our children’s growing bodies bear a much bigger toxic burden than maybe any other generation. Secondly, my exposure to toxins can cause a relapse of symptoms of chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, and so I do what I can to stay feeling good every day.
You are exposed to toxic mercury
We have control over many of these toxins by avoiding the purchase of toxic food, household and body products. But there are some toxins in the environment that are harder to avoid found in our food, air and water and mercury is one of them. The two most common forms of mercury we are exposed to are organic and inorganic. Inorganic mercury, or methylmercury is most commonly found in pharmaceuticals such as vaccines, and dental amalgams (also called “silver” fillings) while exposure to inorganic methylmercury is primarily from consumption of fish and shellfish. Mercury is released into the environment through various ways, namely manufacturing and coal mining.
Strawberries are one of the foods we eat frequently to assist our bodies in dealing with this barrage of toxicity. Strawberries are high in glutathione, a master antioxidant with many important functions including assisting your liver in metabolizing toxins and heavy metals. In a recent discussion with Mike Adam’s of naturalnews.com regarding his food forensics laboratory, he shared some of the observations made when testing foods for their ability to detoxify. He found that the tiny seeds on the exterior of strawberries made them the most effective of fruits in grabbing on to and helping your body eliminate mercury.
Breakfast of Superheroes
Strawberries are delicious on their own, but I created this tasty breakfast smoothie so your body is better equipped to deal with the invaders it fights off each day. Rather than a breakfast that will weaken your immune system or decrease energy, try to give yourself the best start each morning! Avocados are a superfood for your brain, and I added them in here for the healthy fats, potassium, vitamin k and folate so kids can start the day like superheroes, and they won’t even notice them!
Strawberry French Toast Warrior Smoothie
The addition of paleo-approved maple syrup gives this smoothie the French toast flavor!
Serves 2-3
- 1 pint strawberries
- 2 whole avocados
- 1 cup of ice
- 2 scoops favorite protein powder (I prefer grass fed collagen or grass fed whey)
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup (or to taste)
Blend everything together to desired consistency. If you add 3 egg yolks you can freeze and make ice cream!
Razi Berry, Founder and Publisher of Naturopathic Doctor News & Review (ndnr.com) and NaturalPath (thenatpath.com), has spent the last decade as a natural medicine advocate and marketing whiz. She has galvanized and supported the naturopathic community, bringing a higher quality of healthcare to millions of North Americans through her publications. A self-proclaimed health-food junkie and mother of two; she loves all things nature, is obsessed with organic gardening, growing fruit trees (not easy in Phoenix), laughing until she snorts, and homeschooling. She is a little bit crunchy and yes, that is her real name.
References:
- http://www.fasebj.org/content/29/1_Supplement/922.7.short
- http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs361/en/
- http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/01/06/dr-shade-on-mercury-exposure.aspx
- http://www.inchem.org/documents/cicads/cicads/cicad50.htm#2.2
- http://www.naturalnews.com/044339_dietary_mercury_heavy_metals_removal.html