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Detox Water: 30 Great Infused Water Recipes

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infused detox water recipes

Drink More Water! That is one of the pillars of weight loss and one of the top tips you’ll hear on your weight release journey. Why? Because cutting out soda, store bought juice and drinks that are full of processed sugar is key to weight loss and health.

What is Detox Water?

Detox Water is basically water infused with fruit, veggies, herbs, tea or spices. Some people also add things like apple cider vinegar, honey or agave. The thought is that while you are detoxing, cleansing or just transitioning your diet to a more healthy one for the purposes of weight loss, you will benefit from the “detoxing” benefits of the ingredients in these water recipes. It’s true, there are lots of benefits that can be derived from a number of ingredients, but simply putting a variety of natural additives in water will not detox your body alone. Do your research! Detox water is not an effective quick fix or magic elixir. However, infusing water can make it taste great and that is the MAJOR benefit, especially for people who have issues with getting enough water. Drinking more great tasting water is a win, whether your are trying to lose weight or just improve your overall health.

Helpful Tools for Making Infused Water

Ditch the sports drinks and flavor your water with nature’s goodness!

Cucumber Lemon Belly Fat Buster

Slim Down Detox Water – Cucumbers, Lemon, Grapefruit, Mint and Lime

Belly Slimming Detox Water – Cucumber, Strawberry and Basil

Chia Detox Water – “Chia seeds are gluten free and a good source of calcium and fiber.  They are also supposed to help curb your appetite.”

Lavender Lemonade – Made with dried lavender and agave or honey for sweetness. Amazing!

Blueberry Orange Detox Water


Mojito Infused Detox Water – Just Lime and Mint. Great for sugar cravings.

Sparkling Citrus Coconut Water – Instead of regular water, you can use coconut water. Here is an example. Choose the most natural brand you can find (natural ingredients).

Cinnamon Strawberry Detox Water – Cinnamon has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and immunity-boosting properties. More info.

Green Tea Citrus Infused Water – Grapefruit, Lemon, Green Tea and Maple Syrup for sweetness.

Basil and Rose Infused Water

Infused water is like one of my absolute favorite things, esp with anything I can find in the garden or forage. In fact, I think one of my first posts here on IG was for some rainbow infused water (gosh that feels like so long ago now! 😳). Anyhoo… Made this infused water with some end of the season basil from the garden yesterday. I paired it with some rose buds and berries and a hint of maple and it was just incredible. I’m quite experimental usually, but never thought basil and roses would get along so well in one recipe. If you want to make this, just grab a jug or giant mason jar, fill it with some blackberries and blueberries (raspberries and strawberries were great too in another batch I made), a giant sprig of fresh basil or a big handful of fresh basil leaves, and a handful of edible dried rose buds (you can buy them in tea shops if you don’t have any on hand). Add a hint of maple for a delicately sweet version. Cover with cold water and let sit at least 30 mins, strain some of the water into a glass and enjoy 🌿🌸 I usually refill my jug with water throughout the day as you can infuse water more than once with the same batch of ingredients. In this photo I used a beautiful new infused water bottle sent to me by @DROPbottle for an awesome travel-friendly option + I loved how convenient it is because of the built in strainer and handle. My former infused water bottle was quite small in comparison so I was using it mostly for teas and such and making infused water in mason jars, but this one is a good size for doing stuff like this 💕. LOVE. #basil #infusedwater

A photo posted by Audrey Snowe (@unconventionalbaker) on

Blueberry and Sage Infused Water – Sage has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Strawberry Mango Infused Water – Great for sugar cravings or soda cravings. All natural sugar.

Pineapple, Kiwi and Passion Fruit Water – Another great combination for sugar cravings.

Detox Ginger Lemonade – Made with Apple Cider Vinegar, Ginger, Honey and Lemon.

Turmeric Pick-Me-Up – Turmeric has powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant agents.

Beets and Pineapple Infused Water – Beets are high in vitamin C, fiber, potassium and vitamin B.

Cucumber, Lemon and Rosemary Infused Water – Very refreshing, like spa water.

12 Detox Water combinations from DiyNCrafts

seasonal-detox-waters-infographic-by-diyncrafts
Source: www.diyncrafts.com

Resources: Don’t Drink Your Calories

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infused water

detox water
Infused Water Example: I add 3 lemons, 12 oz of ginger/lemongrass tea, and 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar to 64 oz of distilled water.

It’s time to cut out all soda, diet drinks, store bought, sweetened tea and store bought juice from concentrate. Commit to drinking lots of water! 64oz is a great minimum, but it’s up to you to determine what is right for you body.

Don’t try to drink your water all at once and don’t feel like you have to drink a whole gallon. Space your beverages out over the course of the day. You can also drink freshly brewed tea, freshly made juice and homemade smoothies you make at home.

Tip: Try Infused Water! Add fruit, cucumbers, mint, brewed tea and natural sweeteners (like, stevia, agave, etc) to your water for more flavor. Recipe links below.

Here are some helpful links to help you stay on course this week:

Articles:

Recipes

Tools:

Amazon Affiliate Links

Remember: If you have health issues, (kidney or bladder related-issues especially), too much water could cause a problem. The same with too little water. Dehydration is not good for anyone. If you have known medical issues, follow your doctor’s orders when it comes to drinking water. (More info on drinking too much water.)

The Benefits of Ginger

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Ginger is a popular spice used in Indian and Asian cuisine to flavor various dishes. While this spice is often considered savory and is used in many meat-based dishes, ginger is also used in candies, in baked goods and is popular in tea blends.

This versatile root has a lovely flavor and a tasty heat that isn’t too overwhelming. Aside from being pleasing to the palate, ginger is said to be packed with various health benefits.  When it comes to herbs and spices, there is no sure thing, but ginger’s benefits have been noted for centuries so it’s worth a look.

benefits of ginger

4 Potential Benefits of Consuming Ginger

Though the health benefits of ginger has been known in many cultures dating back to ancient times, a surprising number of Americans are in the dark about why this spice is so important.

  1. Ginger Can Help Your Body Fight Inflammation

Ginger is anti-inflammatory in nature and is especially useful for people with arthritis or other joint issues. In a study done by the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of Miami, participants given a ginger supplement had a significant decrease in knee pain.

  1. Ginger May Help Fight Nausea and Morning Sickness

You may have heard that eating some ginger snap cookies during a car trip helps with motion sickness. Ginger has been known to help some people combat nausea, whether it’s sea sickness or morning sickness, for quite some time now. This analysis of studies showed that ginger helped to relieve morning sickness-related nausea without causing any adverse side-effects.

  1. Ginger Can Help with Blood Sugar Management

Ginger has been shown to decrease blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of heart disease in some patients with type 2 diabetes. This study showed that participants given just 2 grams of ground ginger per day lowered their blood sugar by 12%.

  1. Ginger Could Have Anti-Cancer Properties

There are studies involving ovarian cancer, prostate cancer and many other types of cancer that show the benefit of the use of ginger. For example, in a study done on ovarian cancer, tumors reduced in size and slowed in growth greatly. Doctors suggest that women should take a ginger supplement to reduce the risk of getting cancer. Of course this doesn’t suggest a cure, but a suggestion that ginger could be part of an overall treatment regime for some diseases.

Ginger is also very well-known to boost the immune system, reduce symptoms of illnesses like the flu or a cold, and soothe the stomach if you have indigestion.

How to Get More Ginger In Your Diet

There are a few different ways you can add more ginger into your everyday diet. Here are 3 ideas to get you started.

  1. Make a Nutrient-Packed Green Smoothie with Ginger

Green smoothies should already be a part of your diet as they are a great way to get enough vegetables and fruits into your diet. Adding ginger to your green smoothies are one of the easiest ways of getting more of the spice into your diet. You can either grate fresh ginger (1/2 inch piece, peeled) or use a powdered ginger. Try about a teaspoon to start with so it isn’t too overpowering.

  1. Drink Ginger Tea Every Day

Ginger tea can be a great alternative to your morning coffee or tea. Otherwise, try to have a cup of this tea once a day to get its benefits. Ginger tea is extremely simple to make at home. All you need to do is mix 2 teaspoons of grated ginger in 8 oz of hot water. Use 2 teaspoons of sugar or honey to taste. This tea is great to drink if you are feeling nauseous or feel a cold coming on. You can also buy ginger tea at the store though this is more expensive and, depending on the brand, may not be very powerful.

  1. Use Fresh Ginger In Your Cooking More Often

The easiest way to eat more ginger is to make a serious effort to add it to your recipes more often. Ginger goes well in a huge variety of dishes so the next time you are cooking a savory dish, add some grated ginger or powdered ginger. Ginger in soups and stews is a great idea for winter time or if you have a cold as the natural heat of ginger will warm you up (it’s great in Pumpkin and Squash soups).

Ginger is an amazing root spice that is equally delicious as it is healthy. You can find ginger root and high-quality ginger powders at most any grocery store in the produce and spice section. Make an effort to eat or drink ginger more often and see if the claims make sense to you.

Are You Experiencing Caffeine Withdrawals?

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With a Starbucks on every other street corner and the growing popularity of energy drinks, it’s really no surprise that caffeine is extremely common in the average American diet.

caffiene withdrawalCaffeine is a plant-based compound that is most notably naturally present in coffee and tea. This ingredient known for giving energy and mental clarity. Approximately half of Americans drink coffee at least once daily and roughly 80% of adults consume some type of caffeine drink every day. Coffee, energy drinks and other caffeinated drinks are often thought of as a traditional morning beverage.

Unfortunately caffeine can have significant side effects and is very addictive in nature.

Common Symptoms of Caffeine Withdrawals

Caffeine addiction is no joke. It is a recognized addiction and in the DSM-5 manual. This manual is approved by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and is an acronym for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th Edition).

Caffeine withdrawal symptoms can vary from person to person but generally the following are signs you have an addiction.

  • Headaches: Headaches are easily the most common symptom you are experiencing withdrawals. These headaches can vary from mild to severe and typically feel like they are behind the eyes. Some people begin to experience headaches from lack of caffeine if they go just a few hours without a cup of coffee.
  • Insomnia: Insomnia is a common complaint. As your body struggles with the lack of caffeine you may have difficulty sleeping or staying asleep. This in itself is frustrating and can lead to the third withdrawal symptom.
  • Lethargy and Drowsiness: If your body has been relying on caffeine as a source of energy you can feel very tired and sleepy when you stop drinking it. These symptoms are physical as well as psychological.  This will pass, but it may take up to a few weeks.
  • Sensitivity and Irritability: Another common symptom of those going through withdrawals are mood swings. Typically people will feel irritable and may be emotionally sensitive, meaning they may get upset or annoyed easily.
  • Depression: Depression can happen for those going through severe withdrawals. You may feel sad and not interested in doing anything. This symptom often happens in those who are also experiencing lethargy. This is very common when detoxing for substances you have a true addiction to.
  • Cold and Flu Symptoms: This symptom is characterized by having a stuffy nose, muscles aches and stiffness, nausea and feeling like your head is “fuzzy”.
  • Difficulty Concentrating: Feeling fuzzy can also cause you to have problems concentrating at work, in school and just around the house. If you have severe withdrawals with this symptom you should probably take a day or two off to just relax.  Start cutting back on a Friday  so that the symptoms come on during the weekend when you have time to deal with them.

You may experience only one or two symptoms or all of these. Generally withdrawals will begin within 12 to 24 hours of not having caffeine. Typically they will last anywhere from a week to a couple months before they totally diminish.

Tips for Fighting Caffeine Withdrawals

If you have a caffeine addiction there really is no way to completely avoid having them. There are however some steps you can take to diminish them and help you on your journey to a healthier lifestyle.

  • Weaning Yourself from Caffeine vs. Going Cold Turkey

If you suspect you’re going to have strong withdrawals you should consider weaning yourself off of caffeine slowly rather than just stopping at once. To do this simply drink less and less every day until you are no longer consuming any of it. A one week weaning period is much easier on the body.

  • Increase Your Water Consumption

Caffeinated drinks are dehydrating so if you are a big consumer of them you are probably dehydrated at some level. It is especially important during withdrawals that you drink plenty of water. Aim for 8 cups of water spaced out throughout the day. Try adding some lemon or frozen fruit to infuse flavor into your water if you find it difficult to drink.

  • Avoid Overly Sugary, Salty and Fatty Foods

It is really tempting to turn to junk food to help you feel better while you are detoxing from caffeine. Be very careful of using sugary foods or those high in fats and salts as a way of distracting yourself. Loading up on junk food is just going to make you feel worse during this period of time and leave you with another bad habit to break.

  • Get Some Exercise

Exercise is often the last thing you want to do when you feel crummy but it will make you feel better in the long run. There are 2 ways exercise will make your withdrawals easier: 1) it will distract you, and 2) it will give you a boost of energy. Lack of energy is a common symptom and just going for a quick walk will refresh you.

  • Replace Caffeine with a New (Healthy) Habit

Similarly to how chewing gum can help a smoker, adding a healthy beverage to your diet that replaces the caffeinated beverage can be helpful. De-caffeinated tea, a cup of sugar-free orange juice, a smoothie or fruit-infused water are all good options. You may also try sparkling water if it’s the carbonation in energy drinks that you miss.

Coffee, soda, energy drinks and other caffeinated beverages can be a treat rather than a daily beverage, although this is a personal decision. If you feel like you aren’t as healthy as you should be or experience headaches, jitteriness or anxiety, you should consider stopping your caffeine habit.

Is Green Tea Good For Weight Loss?

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green tea weight loss

In these days of fad diets and intense searches for the next weight loss miracle, you’ll hear “green tea” come up in health-centered conversations more and more often. Many people take on drinking green tea not knowing if or why it really helps with weight loss. Even though it’s occupying shelves in health and vitamin sections nationwide, I have to wonder “Does it really work?”. Let’s clear up a few misconceptions…

Super Drink

Rest assured, all the rumors are indeed true about this tea being good for you…but it is NOT a miracle weight loss drink.  That being said… Green tea is one of the healthiest beverages you can drink. Overflowing with antioxidants, there are numerous benefits to consuming green tea including how it can help you have a healthy heart and that it has anti-cancer properties.

While the natural supply of vitamins and nutrients in Green Tea can help your body to burn calories and fat, the results don’t come about as quickly as some would expect. This doesn’t take away from its effectiveness as a nutritional supplement. If you read the ingredients of popular weight loss and diet pills, you’re likely to see some form of green tea listed. It works in terms of supporting health, but it isn’t “the answer” in itself to losing pounds. Anything worth having requires some effort, a healthy life included.

How It Works

Green tea works to reduce fat and stimulate your metabolism. The fats and sugars that enter the body are synthesized into a substance known as triglycerides. When digested in healthy amounts, triglycerides provide the body with energy. If they are consumed in excess, they’re stored as fat. The polyphenols in green tea activate enzymes that can help dissolve extra triglycerides. The problem: You have to drink a significant amount of tea or consume it in a concentrated form to even begin to have any real effect on the body.  Also, depending on what else is going on with your body, green tea may not have an effect at all.

It seems that green tea is good for so many things and that includes addressing high triglycerides. The catechin flavonoids in green tea can reduce triglycerides by up to 20%. The catch is you need to be a BIG tea drinker to benefit as about 600 to 700 mg of green tea catechins are required to achieve the triglyceride lowering effect (the equivalent of 6 to12 cups per day since the catechin content of tea varies greatly).  Alternately, nutritional supplements are available that provide green tea catechins in a more concentrated form. – DiabeticConnect.com

Additionally, green tea contains caffeine, another substance known to aid fat burning in some people. Some avoid the consumption of caffeine because of its strongly stimulating properties. However, many choose to indulge in a hot cup of green tea because it contains a significantly less amount of caffeine than coffee. You’ll still reap the energy increasing benefits without the hyper-sensitive side effects.

Increased Metabolism

Burning fat also means an increase in your body’s metabolism. Recent studies show consuming green tree extract stimulates a process known as thermogenesis. This is the natural increase in your body’s temperature during digestion. Thermogenesis determines how quickly your food will be burned off and recycled into energy. It’s possible to experience this fat burning, metabolism increasing benefit by drinking green tea as a beverage or, for added convenience, you can consume it as a dietary supplement.  It’s important to note that the increase will not be significant enough to burn off a lot of pounds all at once and green tea alone is not a long term weight loss solution.

Add It To Your Routine

As previously stated, green tea has been proven to have numerous health benefits but to reap them to their maximum potential, it’s best to incorporate it into your daily health regimen. You’ll see most commercial weight loss supplements include green tea, and all of them suggest a regular exercise routine and healthy eating habits for the best results. Green tea works, just not on its own. Those who take a daily extract supplement burn 17% more fat while exercising than those who don’t (the dosage varies depending on age, weight, etc). Continuous consumption also strengthens the metabolism, creating a constant fat burning routine even after your workout is completed.  Do your research on what dosage is best for you.

Whether you’re working toward weight loss or just trying to improve your health, green tea is a great addition to your grocery list. High in catechins (phytochemicals), green tea along with an active lifestyle has been proven to combat obesity and heart defects. A diet high in calories with mild activity won’t yield the best results regardless of any natural supplements. A moderately monitored diet with equally moderate level of exercise usually shows significant progress around 12 weeks. Those who are increasingly active and consume a weight-friendly diet can expect to see results much sooner.

The results may seem to straddle the fence a bit in terms of weight loss, but the overall health benefits outweigh its ineffectiveness when it comes to dropping pounds. Green tea isn’t the final answer for someone looking to lose 25lbs as quickly as possible but for long-term benefits for your waistline and internal organs, green tea is worth adding to your shopping list.

PS: Matcha Green Tea is one of the hottest trends around right now.  Learn more about this powerful form of green tea.

7 Reasons to Give Up Soda, Juice and Sugary Drinks

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sugarEvery year rolls people make resolutions and promises to themselves about what they are going to give up in pursuit of better health. Soda is usually on the top of people’s list because we all know soda doesn’t do your body any good in terms of health. Did you know that most commercial juice and other sugary store bought drinks are just as bad? Here are 7 reasons why you need to give up soda, juice and sugary drinks this year.

Reason #7 – Weight gain

Just about everyone knows that drinking soda leads to weight gain because the average soda has 250 calories per serving. Even diet sodas have too much in terms of chemicals when you compare them to water. What you also need to consider is the calorie content of your juices and other sugary drinks. That can of soda could be the equivalent of a donut.  Even diet soda affects your blood sugar like a sugary snack and some ingredients can cause bloating.  If you use the visual imagery of each soda, diet soda, juice or sugary drink being a donut you are eating through the day – how many donuts are you having? Cutting out these drinks cuts out the weight.

Reason #6 – Diabetes

Surprise! Recent findings have shown that all those “healthy” juices at the store and in smoothie shops are really nothing more than a natural version of a cola for all the sugar they deliver. Commercial juicing strips fruit of the fiber needed to neutralize their natural sugars in terms of blood sugar, making it just as bad as a soda.  Also, many juices and bottled smoothies have sugars (not just one type) added into them to increase their taste appeal. All of this sugar, plus the weight gain from associated with these drinks can increase your risk of type 2 diabetes.

Reason #5 – Sugary drinks cause fatigue

If your drink sugary things, you will likely have a sugary crash several hours later and wind up feeling more fatigued than you should without the sugar. If you are fatigued, two things could happen. One, you will be less inclined to follow through on your exercise goals. Two, all that extra fatigue comes from your metabolic rate being artificially slowed, this can lead you right back into weight gain territory.

Reason #4 – Give your digestive system a break

The one thing that soda, juice and most sugary drinks have in common is a high acid level. While your digestive system is set up to neutralize acid levels in the liquids you consume, the human digestive system was not meant to handle the majority of your liquids having such a burning degree of acid in them.

Reason #3 – Drinking any kind of soda is hard on your liver and kidneys

Your liver and kidneys are how your body filters out what it considers toxic to your natural state of health. These organs are so smart; they will go ahead and filter out things that the FDA hasn’t decided are toxic yet. More studies are showing that sodas, particularly colas, make the liver and kidneys work overtime and place more stress on them then you want these vital organs experiencing.

Reason #2 – Think of your teeth and gums

While there is a common association with sugary drinks and sodas with tooth decay, juice can also contribute to the destruction of enamel because of their acidic contents. There is another role that sugar plays in oral problems that most people are not aware of, that is it contributes to an environment that can protect infection and help bacteria grow. If you want to get the health benefits of more fruit in your life – eat the fruit or make smoothies. Fruit comes with pulp and fiber that limits the contact its sugars and acids has with your teeth and gums as you consume it. Without that pulp and fiber, you are getting the sugar from the fruit first.

Reason #1 – Dehydration

The number one reason to stop drinking sodas and sugary drinks is they contribute to dehydration. Didn’t know that? Processed sugar is a natural diuretic agent. It cause water to be flushed from your cells at as rapid a rate as caffeine. Dehydration, even at small levels, can lead to fatigue, irritation, contribute to depression and poor sleep habits. None of this is worth it, skip the sugary drinks and reach for some water or one of the many different types of flavorful herbal tea to get you through the day and enjoy the changes that happen this New Year.

Are the Green Tea for Weight Loss Claims True?

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green tea for weight lossIf you were to believe all the advertisements, infomercials and half the websites on the Internet that are connected to a product with green tea, you might think that it is the magical answer to weight loss. It can be hard to separate fact from fiction when it comes to evaluating products and supplements aimed at helping people burn fat because the issue of obesity is highly charged and there is a lot of money made on diet products. The tried and true methods of reducing calories, eating healthy and increasing exercise can seem too hard to maintain, if your schedule is overburdened or your current weight and lifestyle habits make it hard to break through into healthy living. Green tea has been presented as a cure-all of obesity, but are the green tea for weight loss claims true? The answer is a resounding yes and a huge no. Understanding how green tea can assist in weight loss and how to use it to support a weight loss program will help you achieve your goals realistically.

How to spot when things aren’t what they seem

The first thing you have to accept is that the human body is not designed to lose a pound a day. The body is hard-wired to prevent starvation and will quickly seek to regain the weight loss when the chance comes, and not just regain it, but to build up an additional surplus of fat just in case it is placed into starvation mode again. This is why healthy weight loss is most often calculated at a pound every week to two weeks. This pace means that the weight loss has not placed stress on the metabolism that will create a backlash weight gain and that your habits have changed to support sustaining the healthy weight loss as well.

What green tea does

Green tea leaves are taken from the plant Camellia Sinensis which is indigenous to China and grows in many areas of Asia. The leaves are harvested and prepared with a minimum of oxidization, which preserves a high level of naturally occurring polyphenols in the leaf. The polyphenols can then be consumed by ingesting the tea or water the leaf has been steeped in. These polyphenols contain many properties that are just beginning to be understood and documented by the scientific community to support the practices the tea has been used for in traditional medicines. Polyphenols have been shown to provide support to the immune system, act as a diuretic, have high concentrations of antioxidants, and have the effect of raising the metabolic rate without also increasing heart rate. Traditionally, green tea is used to increase energy, fight off sickness and as a weight loss agent. The thought is that by ingesting regular amounts of green tea in powder, capsule or infused water the polyphenols act within the system in support of immune and metabolic functions.  However, this is a theory but one with a lot of information out there to back it up.

How to use it to support a weight loss plan

No green tea product is going to help you lose weight just by taking it alone. It’s not a magic pill.  Green tea is a diuretic, so you will experience some water weight loss but that is not permanent. Green tea has been proven in scientific studies to aide in weight loss by increasing the metabolism by up to 4%. Your metabolism is how fast your body can process fat to fuel, which is how weight is lost. Green tea has also been shown to increase energy levels, similar to caffeine, which can help you keep up with exercise routines. There is also evidence that green tea supports healthy blood sugar maintenance which is also beneficial to weight loss management.

Guaranteeing success

Green tea can play a very important role in weight loss. By using it in conjunction with calorie management and an exercise program, can help you to lose weight and keep it off.  Just think of it as any other supplement you may choose to use.  It’s a tool. One of the best ways to incorporate green tea in your diet is to use it as a substitute for sugary or high caloric drinks, such as lattes and other fancy coffees. In the end, adding green tea to your daily diet may assist you in reaching your weight loss goals in a healthy way that can be maintained, but it will not do the work for you.