Detox Water Four Ways

Say hello to feeling energized and revitalized with detox water as part of your regimen! Since staying hydrated should be part of our everyday routine, enhancing the flavor and benefits of plain water is just a bonus. I have been creating infused water for years, even as a kid I used to enjoy it instead of soft drinks using fresh fruits from my grandparents’ garden. Now, I have hooked my entire family on it, and we always have a pitcher in the fridge.

Detox Water Recipes

Detox Water is all the rave in health and fitness and has been the start of all the fruit infuser water bottles on the market. It is primarily water that is flavored with the slices of raw fruits, vegetables, spices, and herbs. It can be easily made at home, and it’s known to improve mood, and energy levels, and a great way to ensure proper liquid intake.

This is one simple and delicious beverage that you can drink every day. If you are looking for more homemade concoctions, check out these healthy versions:  Spinach Smoothie, Tropical Smoothie, and Strawberry Banana Smoothie!

To detox means to flush out unhealthy substances from your body. Though this drink alone will not give you that,  since our organs are smart enough to remove accumulated toxins, it is however part of the holistic approach to being healthy. 

Benefits

Drinking plenty of fluids helps our organs function properly, it improves digestion, detoxification, and skin appearance, has a positive impact on the mood, and reduces mental fatigue. Adding high-quality ingredients to plain water will just deliver more nutrients to your body and will give it a boost in functionality.

Detox water does not take much effort to make, you simply mix and match the ad-ins in your drink. It is a lot healthier than the sugar-laden manufactured drinks on the market, as well it is way more cost-effective. At the same time, you can control the quality of the ingredients that go in.

Also, if you try to get rid of the habit of drinking soda, the natural sweetness of the fruits in the detox drink will help you make the transition to healthier options easier. As known, water, even in its purest form, is good for the body, but it’s even better when enhanced with nutrients that will benefit your mind and body.

Detox Water is good for weight loss…

Many sources point out that detox water is popular for its slimming and cleansing effects. I like it even if it does not have these effects, and it’s not the reason why I enjoy consuming it. It has the same thirst-quenching and refreshing effect that carbonated drinks have, but I like that it makes me want to hydrate myself more.

Drinking plenty of fluids, gives the metabolism a boost, and also, helps with satiety, and reduces the chances of overeating. Drinking before eating jumpstarts the metabolism and suppresses the appetite. Therefore, it’s just natural that some healthy weight loss will follow.

Staying hydrated is extremely important for the overall health. After all, our bodies are made up of 60% moisture. The benefits vary depending on the ingredients used. For instance, lemon and lime help burn fat faster, while mint leaves stimulate digestion. Cucumber, on the other hand, has antioxidants that can help with detoxification.

How to make detox water:

• Water: Choose the water that will be used – alkaline, mineral, electrolyte, or regular tap water.
• Slice: Wash the fruits and herbs, then, slice.
• Assemble: In a big enough container or pitcher, alternate layers of ice and the sliced add-ins.
• Steep: Then, add the water and allow the flavors to infuse for 45 minutes, or for best results refrigerate for 12 hours. Then, drink as usual!

Recipe Variations:

The more ingredients that you add, the more festive the colors and the flavors will be! Here are a few combinations that you can try for an enjoyable experience:

• Citrus: orange, lime, lemon, grapefruit, fresh ginger, mint leaves
• Citrus Berry: orange, lime, lemon, blueberry, strawberry, fresh ginger, mint leaves
• Cucumber Rosemary: lime, lemon, English cucumber, rosemary, mint leaves
• Tropical: lime, orange, English cucumber, pineapple, kiwi, mint leaves
• Liver detox: dandelions, ginger, lemon, and turmeric.
• Cooling: Cucumber, lemon, mint, vanilla bean.
• Summer refresher: Watermelon, mint, lemon.
• Digestion boost: grapefruit slices, ginger, cucumber, mint.
• Berry punch: Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, lemon, mint, vanilla bean.

Expert tip

Elevate and enhance the taste of the detox water by mashing part of the berries with a small amount of water. Strain the solids, so they don’t float in the drink add the berry water mixture to the drink. Also, for best results, lightly bruise the fruits when cutting to help them infuse more. Avoid using dried or freeze-dried fruits, they won’t produce good results.

For the infused water to last longer, after a day or two remove the add-ins from the water, this will prevent the fruits, berries, veggies, and herbs from decomposing, and spoiling the drink.

The best container for detox water

I prefer to make large batches of detox water in a Glass Drink Dispenser, as my whole family enjoys it, and I need to have plenty on hand. However, for smaller batches Infused Water Pitcher is great, especially since it separates the add-ins from the liquid, making it easier to discard them.

I also use Infused Water Bottles for when I travel, to take on the go when running errands, and to give my kids to school. At home, I also enjoy using Mason Jars (that have a handle) for the kids to make their individual infused drinks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What water is best for detox?

Staying properly hydrated is key, but since water plays such a huge role in our health, and it’s such a big part of us, making sure that the consumed water is high-quality is very important.

Based on the region, make sure to check the ETA website to see if the tap water is safe to drink. Usually, the ETA will give clear guidelines and will advise if the tap water needs to be boiled, or sometimes even skipped.

Based on individual health goals, and performance goals, mineral water, alkaline water (higher level of pH), or electrolyte water is available. All are great choices and can be used to make detox water.

• Citrus water: It’s a great drink to start the day with, it provides a good dose of Vitamin C and regulates the pH level, also supports the immune system, and skin appearance.
• Citrus berry water: A delicious way to get an antioxidant boost with every sip, that will enhance brain function, maintain blood pressure levels, and increase energy levels.
• Cucumber rosemary water: Cucumber is known for its detoxification benefits, also improves bone health, and lower blood pressure. While rosemary helps improve memory performance, boosts alertness, and relieves stress.
• Tropical water: Rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals, it helps reduce inflammation and soothe digestive discomfort.

When should you drink detox water?

To get the most benefits from the fruits and veggies infused liquid, it is recommended to consume it first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach. This way, it helps the body to recover from the nightly dehydration and allows it to better absorb the nutrients.

However, it is important to consult a doctor before making any changes. As many people with an ulcer, can increase symptoms by having acidic drinks on an empty stomach. Also, some spices and herbs (cinnamon, ginger, dandelion, parsley etc.) consumed in excess, can have a diuretic effect.

How to do a water detox?

The most important part of a water detox is the water itself. Start by making sure the water is of good quality. After that, identify the needs of your body. Consult a nutritionist, and see if you should use alkaline, mineral, or electrolyte water.

Next come the add-ins, these are equally important, and the best part is that these can be adjusted based on personal preference and health goals. Usually, a mix of fruits, veggies, herbs, and sometimes spices is used. The most popular are citrus fruits, tropical fruits, berries, cucumber, cinnamon sticks, rosemary, coriander, parsley, ginger, and mint.

After mixing in everything, refrigerate the water for at least 12 hours, to make sure it’s infused with the nutrients from the added ingredients. The drink can be served hot or cold.

Storage

The lifespan of the infused water depends on the ingredients used, therefore choosing very fresh add-ins is very important.

• Container: First, the infused water should be stored in an airtight jar, container, or pitcher.
• Refrigerate: It can be refrigerated for up to 3 days, BUT it should be investigated before consumption for spoiled ingredients. Any leftovers should be refrigerated within two hours. However, if you keep the pitcher outside on a hot summer day for longer, it is better to discard it. Do NOT consume detox water that has been sitting at room temperature for more than 12 hours.
• Investigate: Taking a small sip of the leftover detox water, and investigating it is very important. Ingredients like lemon and grapefruit can mask the spoiled taste of other ingredients. Therefore, it’s very important to compare, how the drink tasted when it was just freshly made, and if it has any odd smell or taste after being stored.

Recipe Tips

• If the detox water is consumed very quickly, reuse the add-ins by simply refilling the jar with more water. This should be done when the water is halfway down, since the mixture won’t be as flavorful.
• To avoid bitter-tasting water, remove the rinds from the citrus fruits. Also, taste the cucumbers (if using), sometimes they can be bitter too.
• Use cold water to make the infusion. While using warm water will speed up the process, it will reduce the nutrients. It’s better to use cold water, and heat individual portions when ready to consume.
• Frozen fruits can be used, however, when thawed in the water, they may fall apart into pieces.

Smoothie recipes you should try: