Okay… you may have an overeating weekend or experienced bloating after last night’s junk food.

Or, you’d had a few too many drinks during the weekend…

Or, you couldn’t control your overeating on your cheat day…

Well, you are not alone!

We’ve all been there sometimes.

Whatever the reason is, your body needs a break to get rid of all toxic compounds from its organ. What could be a better way to boost your digestive system with some simple drinks! Yes, we are talking about some detox drinks which not only improve digestion but also promote weight loss.

Here, we are going to shed some light on the process of detoxification and some easy detox drinks to flush out toxins from your body.

What is Detoxification?

Detoxification, nowadays, more familiar as ‘detox’ is the process of removing toxic compounds from our body, typically accomplished by the liver.

From the medical perspective, it is necessary to eliminate toxins from the body after they have been consumed. Fortunately, our body is gifted with natural detoxification systems, like the liver and kidney.

Sometimes, antidotes and techniques like dialysis and chelation therapy are used, whereas required. For example, in liver or renal failure cases, dialysis is conducted to replicate the function that the kidney does. If needed, kidney and liver transplants are also necessary.

Detox water is water infused with the flavors of fresh herbs, fruits, and vegetables. Since this water is prepared by infusing flavors, instead of blending or juicing, it contains lesser calories.

Now, can you realize what importance the detoxification process holds for our body? Let’s be specific –

What are some benefits of having detox drinks?

At present, it’s hard to avoid the temptation of junk foods – burgers, pizzas, chips, processed meat, sugary drinks, and whatnot! Sometimes, we feel guilty after consuming a lot of these items. Besides, we are constantly exposed to pollutants, artificial chemicals, and pesticides.

To get rid of all these problems, our body needs a cleanse every once in a while. That’s what a detox drink can help us with. Some of the benefits of having detox drinks regularly are –

Detoxification beverages or detox drinks can help our body flush out the harmful toxins that often cause gas, bloating, fatigue, headaches, and acne.

According to most healthcare professionals and nutritionists, drinking detox waters is helpful to cleanse the liver, boost the digestive system, and improve overall health and well-being.

Since detox drinks contain different types of natural ingredients, they come with a variety of nutritional benefits that mostly promote weight loss.

Having the right ingredients in your detox drinks is also helpful to boost energy and reduce inflammation.

While one study showed that adults tend to consume less than 1.2 liters of water per day, having sufficient detox water can help increase the water intake. This increased water intake could improve your mood and energy level and help you stay calmer and happier.

What are the best ingredients for adding to a detox drink?

Remember, making a detox drink is very simple. You can easily prepare it at home and it is also popular as Ready-to-Drink (RTD) beverages available in stores.

To prepare your detox drink, all you need is water and a choice of fresh fruits, herbs, and vegetables.

The choice of your ingredients is an important step as the more of an ingredient is used in the drink, the stronger the flavor you get.

Here are some key ingredients often used in popular detox water recipes –

• LEMON/LIME
• CUCUMBER
• GINGER
• WATERMELON
• MINT
• BASIL
• APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
• CINNAMON
• GRAPEFRUIT

While there can be a longer list of different detox drinks, we have chosen some easy-to-prepare detox drink recipes that come with their benefits for your health and well-being.

Easy Detox Drink Recipes

1.   Lemon + Ginger Water

The combination of lemon and ginger is believed to be one of the healthiest ayurvedic drinks to have a healthy and clean digestive system. While ginger is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, lemon aids to remove waste products from the body.

Preparation: Take a glass of warm water and add ginger and lemon juice. Drink it while it is lukewarm.

2.   Cucumber + Mint Water

Cucumber is an excellent ingredient to detoxify your body. It is also helpful in flushing out toxins and keeping the body rehydrated. Above all, cucumbers are loaded with vitamin C which is essential to boost immunity and fibre to further aid digestion.

On the other hand, different species of mints, especially peppermint and spearmint can add some nutrients like iron, folate, manganese, etc. More importantly, mint adds a dynamic flavor somewhere between sweet and cool to your detox drink.

Preparation: Pour water into a jar. Then cut half of a cucumber into thin slices leaving skin on. Then, squeeze a few mint leaves in your hand to have a slight crush. Mix all ingredients well. Allow the drink ½ hour or overnight in the refrigerator to release all flavors.

Tip: You can add some slices of lemon to this drink for better results.

3.   Apple Cider Vinegar Detox

A list of detox drinks would be incomplete without a mention of apple cider vinegar (ACV). Containing good bacteria for the gut and minerals, vitamins, and enzymes, apple cider vinegar offers a multitude of health benefits. While it comes with a complicated flavor, tart, woody, and dry, it is a fantastic ingredient for weight loss, balancing pH, and boosting healthy digestion.

Preparation: For making the basic detox drink with apple cider vinegar, you can add 1 to 2 tablespoons of raw, unfiltered ACV into one glass of purified or distilled water.

Tip: If you don’t like the raw flavor of apple cider vinegar, you may add 1 tablespoon of organic honey or maple syrup into your detox drink.

4.   Cinnamon Water + Honey

Honey includes all important vitamins, minerals, and essential fats while cinnamon is considered one of the healthiest spices in the world. This spice helps us with reducing visceral fat while it offers antiparasitic properties. Above all, honey comes with essential hormones that support weight loss by reducing our appetite.

Preparation: Add 1 tablespoon of honey and ½ teaspoon or 2.5g of cinnamon to 1 cup of water and boil it for some time. Then remove the flame and allow the drink to cool down. Then add 1 tablespoon of honey and stir it well. Your honey and cinnamon detox drink is ready!

5.   Green Tea

If you haven’t included a couple of cups of green tea in your daily routine yet, add it today! Green tea with so many health benefits, especially its antioxidant-rich properties has already been labeled as a superfood.

It is also proven that green tea helps in fat reduction by improving one’s metabolism. Above all, it can save you from inflammation and bloating.

Preparation: Infuse some green tea leaves in warm water and let it soak for 3-4 minutes. Then, strain the tea into water and enjoy your superfood. You can also add honey to add sweetness (optional).

Tip: If you want to avoid the bitterness of green tea, make sure you don’t add tea leaves into extremely hot water as it may burn the leaves.