20 Detoxing Foods to Jump-Start Weight Loss

If you're looking for a fresh start to clean up your eating habits—especially if you want to burn off some pounds before the start of summer—stock up your fridge and pantry with these detoxing foods.

Fat is essential in every diet. Not only does your body need it, fat keeps you feeling fuller for longer. Avocados are loaded with omega-3 fats (the good kind!), which is said to reduce inflammation. They also taste great and are super versatile, so you can eat them in a smoothie, chunked up in a salad, or sliced on a plate with a squeeze of lemon and sprinkle of salt.

Artichokes are also often included in detox diet regimens. They're a traditional food in the Mediterranean diet, low in calories and loaded with fiber, vitamins A, B, C, E and K, and have an abundance of potassium, calcium and other minerals.

Mighty little beets are packed with antioxidants, such as betaine, and pigments that are thought to be anti-inflammatory—both of which aid the liver in a detox diet. They're also delicious when thinly sliced and eaten raw, with a drizzle of avocado or olive oil, fresh tarragon and a sprinkle of flaked salt.

Broccoli is one of the easiest vegetables to find and one of the hardest workers in supporting our livers, which is where detoxing happens. The key component in broccoli (and other cruciferous vegetables, like cabbage) is sulphoraphane, which prompts the liver to make enzymes that block free-radical attacks on DNA, according to Sheah Rarback, registered dietician at the University of Miami School of Medicine.

Collard greens are one of the most nutritionally packed natural foods out there—and they're an essential part of a detox diet. In addition to some protein and calcium, they contain loads of vitamins A, K and folate. They can be tough when eaten raw, but lightly sautéing, especially with garlic, or crammed into a smoothie are great ways to power eat these wonderful leafy greens.

Fresh dill, a delicious addition to salads, is thought to also have certain health benefits, particularly related to digestion and liver support. Dill contains monoterpenes, such as limonene, carvone and anethofuran, which give it its distinctive smell and taste. It contains significant amounts of vitamins A and C, and also a little bit of folate, iron and manganese. For some women, dill can also help relieve menstrual cramps.

Fennel, with its unique, licorice-like taste and fiber-packed texture, is a great addition to salads when thinly sliced. Nutritionally, it's packed: calcium, magnesium, fiber, vitamin K and lots of antioxidants (which reduce inflammation). It's been known to aid digestion and also keep you feeling full, essential for any weight loss plan to work.

Green tea may be one of the most beneficial ways to boost and maintain your detox plan. Long known for its anti-inflammatory properties, green tea is also packed with strong antioxidants and may boost metabolism—a great way to jump-start weight loss. It also increases enzyme activity in the liver, which supports the organ in doing its job to cleanse the body and rid it of toxins.

Most cleanses and detoxes include consumption of lemon water, which proponents say aids digestion and increases energy. In any case, it's a tasty way to get more glasses of water in every day, if plain water gets too boring. As with any diet, particularly ones as calorie and food restrictive as many detox and cleanse diets are, be sure to talk to your doctor before undertaking one for a sustained period of time.

Kale is a detox/diet staple and can be consumed in many forms, including smoothies, juices or as a simple sautéd side dish. No matter how you take it in, it's packed with fiber, iron, vitamins A, C and K, antioxidants and calcium. Like its sister, the collard green, it's a superfood that should be included in way of eating for weight loss and health.

In addition to being rich in fiber and nutrients, onions are also packed with the antioxidant quercetin, which one 2008 study, published in the journal Metabolism, suggested may help burn calories while also reducing inflammation. Onions are also packed with flavor and low in calories, making them ideal for any diet. They'll punch up the flavor of any meal and keep them from getting boring.

Garlic has been used for centuries to protect the body and keep it clean. Whether it does what it promises has not been proven, but many culture swear it has health-boosting properties. In any case, garlic is loaded with vitamin C and antioxidants, making it a logical addition to your detox diet. Like other aromatics, such as onions, it adds a depth of flavor to keep things from being bland.

Wheatgrass is an under-celebrated superfood that can be eaten as a juice, a powder or even raw in salads. It's packed with amino acids and vitamins. Though some attempt wheatgrass detox diets, it requires pounds and pounds of the stuff to get what you need daily. Instead, a shot of wheatgrass, or eating as much as you can tolerate alongside other detoxing foods, might be the better way to go.

If you're sticking to a strict detox diet, you might also be flushing out important and essential bacteria along with the toxins you're aiming to get rid of. Yogurt is a delicious and easy way to attempt to replenish (or maintain) some of the types of bacteria that your gut wants—and needs—for good health. In addition to the natural probiotics, you'll also be getting calcium, protein and, hopefully, some fats in your daily yogurt.

The bright yellow color of turmeric is also its most desired quality: the phytochemical curcumin, which is thought to stimulate bile production in the gallbladder. The liver uses bile to pick up toxins and flush them from the body, so turmeric is supercharging the process. The root powder is also known for its anti-inflammatory properties, which is good for the skin and overall good feeling in your body.

Nuts are a great and healthy way to get important fats in your diet. But if you're looking to lose weight, just a handful each day will do. Almonds, especially, contain vitamin E and tons of fiber, and some studies have found that they may help to pick up various toxins you're trying to boost the elimination of during your detox. For your best results, eat them raw.

Ginger is another detox staple. Whether its effects are those detox dieters are aiming for is unclear, but a study, published in a 2006 issue of Phytotherapy Research, found that ginger does reduce inflammation, thereby reducing pain. It also helps to regulate blood sugar—which, at the very least, will smooth over hunger spikes during your calorie-restricted detox.

While grapefruit has long been a weight loss diet staple, there's some compelling evidence for detoxers to avoid this ruby red fruit. Grapefruits slow or stop the liver's ability to produce some important enzymes, which can also interfere with the effectiveness of certain drugs. The lowered level of these enzymes may also slow the body's metabolism and, therefore, stall weight loss and detox.

For some, drinking oil straight up is an impossibility. For others, it's an essential step in detoxing. If it's your thing, olive oil mixed with lemon juice can be included in your detox-to-weight-loss plan. If a glass of the stuff is too much, maybe just drizzle on your other detox-boosting vegetables.

Many detox fans claim that seaweed and certain algaes are an effective way to optimize liver function, boost the body's ability to clear out toxins and trigger a bit of weight loss. They're loaded with phytochemicals and antioxidants, and contain other important nutrients like protein, iron, vitamin B, and an array of minerals such as selenium, magnesium and zinc.