Detox water is a fancy name for what’s commonly called flavored-water or infused-water. It is prepared by adding cut fruits and veggies to the water and letting their juices flavor the water.
Since the added ingredients are not juiced, this beverage has minimal calories. This is one of the reasons why it’s detox water is so popular for weight loss. The other reasons aren’t so straightforward, but more on that later.
10 recipes of detox water for weight loss
The recipes of detox water couldn’t be easier. All you have to do is add your favorite ingredients, sliced, into the water and wait.
The maximum time you should let the fruits and veggies in is 12 hours, as they will start decomposing after that. During that period you can choose to drink this beverage whenever you want, bearing in mind that the longer you wait, the more intense the flavor will be.
Citric water
Ingredients
- Purified water: 1/2 gallon;
- Lemon: 1/2, sliced;
- Grapefruit: 1/2, sliced;
- Cucumber: 1 cup, sliced.
Directions
Combine all the ingredients in a jug. Remove the fruits after 12h. You can either use warm or cold water.
“Slim down” water
Ingredients
- Spring water: 1/2 gallon;
- Grapefruit: 1/2, sliced;
- Cucumber: 1/2, sliced;
- Lemon: 1/2, sliced;
- Lime: 1/2, sliced;
- Mint: 2-3 leaves.
Directions
Mix all the ingredients in a jug and put it in the refrigerator for 1 or 2 hours before serving. Remove the ingredients after 12h and discard this beverage after 24h.
Lemon water
Ingredients
- Water: 1 cup, at room temperature;
- Lemon: 1, juiced;
- Apple cider vinegar: 1 tbsp;
- Raw honey: 1 tsp;
- Salt: a pinch.
Directions
Combine all the ingredients in a pitcher. The longer you wait to drink it, the more intense the flavor will be.
Watermelon detox water
Ingredients
- Cucumber: 1/2, sliced;
- Lemon: 1, small size, sliced;
- Watermelon: 1 1/2 cups, cut in little pieces;
- Filtered water: 2 cups;
- Ice: 1 cup.
Directions
Mix all the ingredients in a pitcher. For a more intense and refreshing flavor, refrigerate until chilled.
Ginger mint water
Ingredients
- Cucumber: 1, sliced;
- Ginger root: 2 inches, peeled;
- Lemon: 2 wedges;
- Mint leaves: 10 to 12, fresh;
- Purified water: 1 gallon;
- Himalayan salt: a pinch.
Directions
Combine all the ingredients in a pitcher and stir using a wooden spoon. Refrigerate for 3 to 4 hours before drinking.
Flat tummy water
Ingredients
- Purified water: 1 liter;
- Cucumber: 10 slices;
- Lemon: 1, sliced;
- Ginger: 1 tsp, grated;
- Mint: 4-5 leaves;
- Basil: 4-5 leaves;
- Rock salt: 1 tsp.
Directions
Combine all the ingredients in a mason jar and stir. Refrigerate overnight before drinking it.
Strawberry-basil water
Ingredients
- Strawberries: 1 pint, sliced;
- Basil: 10 fresh leaves, torn;
- Lemon: 1, sliced;
- Water: 2 quarts.
Directions
Combine all the ingredients in a large mason jar and refrigerate for 2 hours before drinking it. This water is good for consumption for up to 2 days.
Blueberry orange water
Ingredients
- Purified water: 6 cups;
- Mandarin oranges: 2, cut into wedges;
- Blueberries: a handful;
- Ice
Directions
Mix all the ingredients in a mason jar and refrigerate for 2 to 24 hours so the flavor to be more intense. Serve cold.
Raspberry kiwi water
Ingredients
- Raspberries: 1/2 cup, fresh;
- Peaches: 1/2 cups, thinly sliced;
- Kiwi: 1/3 cups, cut in cubes;
- Filtered water: 27 oz.
Directions
Combine the fruits in a pitcher or a mason jar and cover with the water. Put it in the fridge for 4 to 8 hours before drinking. Serve cold.
Cucumber melon water
Ingredients
- Water: 16 oz.;
- Cucumber: 3 slices;
- Melon: 1/4 cup.
Directions
Combine the cucumber and the melon in a mason jar and add the water. Put it in the fridge for at least 1 hour to allow the ingredients to release their flavor. Remove the fruits once you reached the flavor intensity you want.
Benefits of detox water
There are a lot of benefits attributed to detox water, from improving one’s immune system to help with weight loss. These are, however, misplaced.
The fruits, herbs and veggies used to prepare this water are indeed nutritious and can support a healthier body and weight loss. But the amount of nutrients they release into the water is insignificant to produce any benefits.
That is not to say that detox water doesn’t have advantages, only that they are more related to the increase of water intake rather than what you add to it.
Among these benefits you can find:
- Weight loss (due to the substitution of sodas by this water and increased hydration)
- Improves digestion – more hydration means a regular digestive system and bowel movement.
- More energy – dehydration can cause fatigue and reduce concentration.
Are there any side-effects?
Water doesn’t have any side-effects except when consumed in excessive quantities. It is the same for detox water. Too much of it can flush important vitamins and mineral out of the body, leading to their deficiency.
There isn’t any other side-effect to these beverages in general. However, there can be depending on what you add to the water. Likewise, if these infused waters are all you consume as part of a detox diet, you’re bound to have nutritional deficiencies.
Is detox water good or bad in the end?
Increasing your water intake, especially as a substitution for sugary sodas and juices, is always commendable.
If you want to benefit of the properties of the ingredients you add to your mixes, it’s best to just eat them. But other than that, drinking detox water is a healthy habit that can indeed help your body.
To sum up: drinking detox water is good, you just need to take its benefits with a pinch of salt.
So, get creative and start preparing your own recipes of infused water. Cucumber water is a popular choice, but as you can see in the video below, there are many other combinations possible.
