Detox "teas," juice cleanses, and extreme diets may be all the rage, but do they really work? In reality, these fad trends don't do much to support your body's natural detoxification processes. Instead, they drain your wallet and send you back to your usual habits. The good news is that there are science-backed ingredients that can support your body's natural detox pathways. Here are some healthy, whole foods-based recipes to boost key nutrients that will help your body detox more efficiently.

Glutathione Green Goddess Salad

Glutathione, also called “the master antioxidant”, is key for maintaining health, reducing oxidative stress, enhancing metabolic detoxification, and boosting the immune system. Although the body naturally produces glutathione, it's important to consume glutathione-rich foods and foods high in sulfur (a mineral used in glutathione synthesis) to keep your body functioning optimally. Try this delicious salad recipe that's high in both glutathione and sulfur.

Salad:

• Use spinach as your salad base. Spinach is naturally rich in glutathione.
• Add in other chopped cruciferous veggies like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and kale to add sulfur to help the glutathione get processed efficiently by the body.
• Add 2 thinly sliced green onions. Allium vegetables like green onions, garlic, and shallots all boost glutathione levels

Dressing:

• Juice of 2 lemons
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 shallot
• 1 cup fresh basil
• ½ of an avocado (another food that is rich in glutathione!)
• Salt to taste

Blend the dressing ingredients, adding salt to taste and water to thin out if necessary. Toss it with your salad and enjoy!

Antioxidant Power Bowl

Antioxidants aren’t a buzzword - they’re essential to help the body neutralize free radicals. In addition to glutathione, many nutrients like vitamin C, zinc, vitamin E, phenols, and selenium all act as antioxidants in the body. Here’s a delicious bowl that assembles some of the most powerful players into one recipe.

Ingredients:

• Cooked brown rice - rich in selenium.
• Bell peppers and snow peas - vitamin C.
• Cooked spinach - vitamin E.
• Grilled steak or chicken - both contain selenium.
• Sprinkle with sesame seeds - zinc.

Assemble your bowl and top with the sesame seeds and your favorite dressing. A low-sodium soy sauce would work well here or even the green goddess recipe above! Remember, virtually all fruits, vegetables, and seeds are rich in one antioxidant or another, so feel free to make swaps based on what you have on hand and what you prefer.

Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries

We all need a treat once in a while! These dark chocolate covered strawberries are great to have on hand in the fridge when a sweet craving comes along. You’ll get an amazing antioxidant boost from the strawberries and the dark chocolate, as well as some fiber in the strawberries to help with digestion and keep you satisfied for longer.

Ingredients:

• Strawberries, cleaned and dried. Make sure your berries are completely dry before adding the chocolate.
• Dark chocolate - check out Hu Kitchen for a healthier dark chocolate option.
• Optional - add a sprinkle of nuts like pecans or almonds to add some healthy fat and extra antioxidants.

After your strawberries have been washed and are completely dry, melt your chocolate. You can use the microwave or the double boiler method. Dip your strawberries in the chocolate and set on a tray lined with parchment paper. Add your toppings if you so choose, then set in the fridge to chill. Enjoy once the shell has hardened!