Our bodies are smart. Our fancy wellness habits add up in the big picture, but there’s not a person in the world who’s exempt from the need to cleanse or detox periodically. Daily detox rituals make it easier to keep our cells in a constant state of self-healing; that means less fixing, more flourishing – the key theme in in our series with holistic nutritionist and cancer survivor, Elissa Goodman, detailing insights from her important new book Cancer Hacks…

The human body is resilient and an incredible healing machine. My own body showed its strength through cancer and I’ve spent many years rebuilding after illness. It’s one thing to survive after disease, it’s another to rebuild and fully recover. The body has the ability to heal on its own, but we still need to support it with natural healing processes and the right conditions to flourish.

My book Cancer Hacks is about my journey, surviving, loss and, most importantly, healing and rebuilding. Today, I continue healing practices and incorporate rebuilding into my everyday life. While I detail many of my daily healing rituals in the book, I’m sharing three of the easiest ways you can foster healing in your own life.

Make Antioxidant-Rich Foods A Part of Every Meal

You can eat to avoid sickness and disease and you can eat to heal. Powerful antioxidant-rich foods can strengthen your immune system and aid the body in rebuilding, while giving you hope and chance to battle any illness. There is nothing better than antioxidants to eliminate free radicals that cause disease, premature aging, muscle degeneration, diabetes and cancer.

On any given day, I am sure to incorporate at least six of these antioxidant rich foods into my meals. I start the day with prunes, add wild berries and leafy greens into my smoothies, add fresh herbs on everything and make sure to eat something green in every serving.

The simplest and most effective way to expose yourself to more antioxidants is through your diet, making it one of the tastiest ways to heal your body. These plant-based antioxidants are my top recommendations to counteract cell damage and repair damaged cells…

Greens: kale, collards, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, arugula, baby greens, spinach, asparagus, peas, artichoke, spirulina

Nuts + Seeds: pecans, walnuts, pumpkin seeds

Stone Fruits: apricots (selenium, zinc and beta carotene), cherries (zinc, iron, polyphenols), prunes (cancer protector/high in fiber)

Wild Berries: raspberries, blueberries, goji berries, acai berries, strawberries, cranberries, blackberries

Fresh Herbs: cilantro, parsley, basil, thyme, oregano, ginger

Roots: garlic, onions, daikon radish, sunchoke (aka Jerusalem artichoke)

Spices: clove, cinnamon, cumin, turmeric (curcumin), cacao nibs/powder

Beans: pinto beans, red beans

Note: This list happens to be some of my most recommended options, but increasing your intake of all vegetables and fruits is beneficial!

 the Power of Sunshine, Clean Food + Water

Doesn’t this tip sound super simple? Yet it is very difficult for many of us to do. Besides being incredibly healing, who wouldn’t strive for these three basic necessities?

Vitamin D: Our bodies make vitamin D in the sunshine and that provides many positive effects on health. The free gift of warm sunshine goes well beyond vitamin-D production: Ample amounts of sun are associated with pain-killing benefits, alertness, increased metabolism and regulation of lifespan. Sunshine has also been linked to the production of nitric oxide, a blood-pressure lowering compound that is good for the heart.

Non-Toxic Food: Clean food includes unprocessed foods in their natural form, free of chemicals, additives, preservatives and all the other junk. This means eliminating processed and packaged foods and going back to the basics. When you nourish your body with clean food you are giving it the best possible medicine for healing. Fuel your body with wholesome foods and watch yourself begin to thrive.

Healing Hydration: Healthy water intake can help us in many ways, but we most definitely cannot heal if we’re inundating ourselves with toxins through our drinking water. There are many reasons to advocate for healthy water supply – your health being number one, but you think better, your immune system functions better, your strength increase, your energy improves and your body cleanses better when hydrated with clean water. You’d be amazed on how much you can heal!

the daily DEtox Tonic Recipe

My daily healing concoction is comprised of the following ingredients. Read up on the specific benefits and get the full recipe below!

Lemon: Improves digestion, boosts mineral absorption, and cleanses the body.

Aloe Vera: Contains powerful antioxidant compounds, can ease constipation, and is said to enhance insulin sensitivity and help improve blood-sugar management.

Ginger: Reduces inflammation, reduces gas and intestinal discomfort and helps to prevent stomach ulcers and bad bacteria from inhabiting the gut.

Coconut kefir: Natural supplier of probiotics to the digestive tract, it’s easily digested, cleansing to the digestive tract, provides beneficial bacteria, vitamins, and minerals and promotes a healthy immune system.

‘LOVE’ Alkaline Water: My ‘secret’ ingredient. Alkaline water blessed with the intention of LOVE (available at Divine Water in Los Angeles). Alkaline water can help to neutralize acid in the bloodstream; it contains antioxidant properties, cleanses the colon, and the increased alkalinity is supportive to overall health.

Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar: Provides proteins, enzymes and friendly bacteria to the gut. Apple cider vinegar helps the body maintain an alkaline state and can give you a natural energy boost while helping the body detox. It can help detoxify the liver and stimulate circulation. Learn more about what it can do here.

Mary Ruth Organic Liquid Probiotics: This is an odorless, tasteless, liquid probiotic that’s organic and soil-based formula (not dairy-based). The strains included work the entire digestive tract, both small and large intestines, which is so important! Grab a bottle here.