When it comes to losing weight, people don’t realize that the majority of their effort has to be put towards what they eat. Working out helps with weight loss, but you can’t expect to lose weight if you exercise for 40 minutes a day and eat meat, processed foods, dairy products, refined sugars, and junk food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Things just don’t work like that. When you are conscious of how to supply your body with the food it needs, weight loss will come naturally.
Whether it is through your diet or the environment, toxins manage to lodge themselves inside the body. An excess build-up of toxins makes it difficult for the body to function optimally. You can naturally flush these toxins from your body with fruits and vegetables, or you can use detox waters.
A lot of people get attracted to juices if they are trying to cleanse. While there are some exceptions, most bottled juices that people buy contain preservatives or a lot of sugar. Either juice the foods yourself or infuse fresh produce into your water to absorb the benefits. Drinking detox waters is a great way to aid your weight loss process because they keep your digestive system healthy. Try the following recipes and let us know how they worked for you.
Ginger Mint Water
Ginger is a great herbal remedy that can be used to help a variety of ailments. It helps smooth digestion and it has incredible anti-inflammatory properties.
Ingredients
- 1 cucumber
- 2 inches ginger root, peeled and sliced
- 2 lemon wedges
- 10-12 mint leaves
- pinch of sea salt
- 1 gallon water
Instructions
Get a large container that can hold 1 gallon of purified water. Combine the ingredients in the jug with the water and stir to combine the flavors. Refrigerate this for about 4 hours and then enjoy. You can strain or not strain the ingredients from the water; up to you.
Strawberry Basil Water
It’s always beneficial to consume antioxidants. Strawberries are rich in these, in addition to other essential nutrients, and basil contains antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Ingredients
- 10 whole strawberries, sliced
- 2 lemon wedges
- juice from half a lemon
- handful of fresh basil leaves
- ½ gallon water
Instructions
Follow the instructions in the above recipe.
Lemon, Pineapple & Mango Water
Pineapples are great for the digestive system because they have an anti-inflammatory enzyme. In addition to their ability to regulate blood sugar levels, mangos can help relieve bloating and flatten your stomach.
Ingredients
- Cubed pineapple & mango (enough to fill 1/3 glass)
- 2 lemon slices
- Water to fill up the cup
Instructions
Place the ingredients in the cup or water vessel of your choice and enjoy. You can keep refilling the water too!
Cucumber Lemon Water
This is probably one of the most classic combinations. Lemon helps fight free radicals in the body and they aid digestion. Cucumbers add a nice flavor and are a great weight loss food.
Ingredients
- ½ cucumber
- 1 lemon
- 3-4 mint leaves
- 1 quart water
Instructions
Wash the cucumber, lemon, and the mint leaves. Slice the cucumber and lemon and place them into a water jug. Pour the water over and place it in the fridge to infuse overnight. Enjoy!
