20 Diuretic Foods to Detoxify, Lose Weight and Lower Your Blood Pressure

Diuretic foods can be helpful if you are looking to lower your blood pressure or if you are prone to water retention. Some people on the diet also use them to help lose weight, remove excess body fluids that carry toxins with them.

There are diuretic drugs, but they present a number of dangers and it is a much better idea to make some changes to your diet and see the effects. Here is our selection of the best diuretic foods to keep things natural.

1- Lemon

Adding lemon to your water does not only make it taste better, but it can help if you have high blood pressure, and it is often one of the first foods recommended for people with certain medical conditions. It is very easy to add lemon to your diet since it is the juice you use, just add the juice to water or your food and you will enjoy the benefits. It is also used to treat cases of urinary tract infection.

2- Oats

Oats are regularly ranked among the best foods to eat for weight loss and it has a surprising diuretic effect on the body. Most of the time, they are moisturizing fruits and vegetables that are diuretic, but oats seem to be a food that absorbs and leads to toxins and especially cholesterol. But oats can also bring you relief if you are in water retention. This is one more reason why a bowl of oatmeal makes an excellent start to the day, even if you are on a diet or are worried about your cholesterol level.

3- Celery branch

The celery branch contains a lot of water and will lead you to eliminate more. It's ideal for moisturizing the body, and recent research has shown that it's not just the water we drink that hydrates us, but the water we take in food too. If the taste of celery bothers you or if you do not like chewing, try adding it to a diuretic smoothie with other fruits and vegetables found on this page. You will give your body a healthy boost and also make digestion and assimilation easier.

4- Brussels sprouts

Maybe you do not like the taste of Brussels sprouts, but they offer so many benefits that you could just learn to love them, or at least tolerate them. They are part of the various crucifers on our list, and it is a low calorie food category that is rich in antioxidants and is ideal for your overall health. If you can not stand brussels sprouts as a side dish, try mixing them with other vegetables or incorporating them into your main dish so that you will only eat them together.

5- Ginger

It is not easy to eat ginger in large quantities, and luckily, it is not necessary. Put some grated ginger with your meals, or add a little in a glass of water and it will bring you the benefits you need. It has cleaning effects in the body, and is often used in detox programs to help your body get rid of toxins. It has diuretic properties as well, and will help your body to evacuate superfluous fluids. The next time you go shopping, buy some ginger roots. You will be surprised at how well you will use it when you have it at hand.

6- Beets

In addition to being diuretic, beets are also a rich source of antioxidants and have a specific antioxidant, betalain, which is found only in a few foods. When you buy your beets, prefer raw beets that you can grate, put in your juices or smoothies, in raw soup (then warmed slightly) or steam.

7- Cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has a number of uses, and one of it is its diuretic property that causes your body to flush out unnecessary fluids, allowing you to have better urinary function and overall health. You can use apple cider vinegar to help purify the water, and help energize a slow digestive system. You can also find it in many recipes, but if you use it as a diuretic, it may be better to add water. It is not necessary to use large quantities.

8- Cabbage

Cabbage is a healthy food, no matter how it is cut, and it is a diuretic too. It is also helpful in preventing cancer, or some cancer healings, and it is a vegetable that can help reduce the risk of heart disease. A great way to eat cabbage is in the form of soup. This involves cutting into thin slices and cooking it, according to taste, al dente, or a little more, with steam. It is important not to add too much salt to your cabbage soup, as this will reduce the diuretic effect and the evacuation of excess sodium. Another form is of course sauerkraut (vegetables) because by taking it fermented you add the probiotics.

9- Cranberry juice

Maybe you've heard that cranberry juice can be good when you have a urinary tract infection and that's partly because it's a diuretic. An interesting feature of cranberry juice is that it leaves your potassium levels intact, and also provides additional antioxidants to help your body fight free radicals. Be careful to choose organic cranberry juice, so you will avoid conventionally grown cranberries that may have been treated with pesticides as they grow and store.

10- Eggplant

Eggplant acts as a natural diuretic and there are weight loss enthusiasts who prepare a special "Eggplant Water" by boiling eggplants and drinking the remaining water for the purpose of losing water. It's a little excessive, but you can still eat eggplant in almost all your meals and see the diuretic effects.

11- Parsley

Parsley is not only a nice decoration on your plate, it also offers several benefits in addition to being a natural diuretic. Parsley contains several types of well-concentrated antioxidants. You can add parsley to your water for a fresh taste, or you can add some to your dishes if you do not want to eat it directly. The tangy taste may refresh your breath, but it could be too strong for some palates.

12- Caffeinated beverages

Any caffeinated beverage can be used as a diuretic, including coffee and tea. It is best to weigh the pros and cons of the foods you will consume for their diuretic effect. The caffeine in these beverages could also have adverse effects and you should choose other foods and beverages that will offer you a similar function.

13- Water

Although it sounds counter-intuitive, drinking water actually helps your body get rid of excess fluids. And conversely, not drinking enough water can cause your body to retain water in order to keep its moisture levels where it's needed. If you wish to accentuate its diuretic effects, squeeze a lemon into your water, or drink hot water with a few slices of ginger for some kind of ginger tea. These methods will amplify the diuretic effect since these supplements are also diuretic.

14- Tomatoes

For their diuretic effect, tomatoes are eaten raw, on a salad or in fresh tomato juice. If you do not like the taste of tomato juice alone, you can add carrots or watermelon to increase the effect and get a delicious flavor. Tomatoes are also one of the healthiest foods you can eat, with their high amounts of lycopene (antioxidants), they have proven effective in helping fight cancer and prevent all types of heart disease.

15- Cucumber

Cucumber is mainly made of water and is a very moisturizing vegetable. That's why you usually see it in detox recipes. It helps restore your urinary function, and can help for diabetes, weight loss and even cancer. Indeed, cucumber contains antioxidants as well as minerals that the body needs every day for optimal function.

16- Watermelon

The watermelon contains a lot of water and allows you to urinate more, and will help you clean your body of water and excess sodium. It is also very rich in antioxidants.

17- Carrots

Carrots are often thought of as good for the eyes, but they have a number of other benefits, and they are also diuretic. You will find several different varieties depending on how you want to use them. Young carrots can be eaten as a snack or on a salad. Those of more usual sizes can be used in slices in cooked recipes, you can also consume large quantities in fresh juice.

18- Garlic

Garlic provides a cleansing effect and acts as a diuretic as well and is one more reason to use it extensively in your culinary preparations. It remains to prove that garlic tablets are diuretic and eat it in its natural or powder form is recommended if it is the desired effect. It is not necessary to eat many cloves of garlic for benefits, and using it simply by cooking should be enough to see the results.

19- Artichokes

Artichokes can have a strong diuretic effect and can compete with the effects of prescription drugs in some cases. The good news is that artichokes are also good for the digestive system, and for the liver, so if you're looking to lose weight, it can help you in many ways. It is also very rich in vitamins and minerals, so you reconstitute your body at the same time that you will help get rid of excess fluids.

20- Asparagus

Asparagus is one of the healthiest vegetables, so you'll get plenty of nutrients in addition to its diuretic properties. Many people have noted that eating asparagus gives their urine a smell and this shows the link between this vegetable and the urinary system. The smell is caused by an acid found in asparagus that reacts in some way. This is not harmful to the body and in fact, the antioxidants found in asparagus will benefit you in countless ways.