Detox Waters for Cleansing and Wellness

Detoxing has been popping up left and right these days as people realize what a toxic environment we live in. I discuss “detox” more in depth here, but the gist of it is this: The only thing that can “detoxify” your body, is your body itself. The kidneys, liver, and lungs in particular work to filter any bad stuff through your system, so the best ingredients when it comes to detox drinks are those that help peak the efficiency of those organs.

1. Beautiful Beet Water

Beets can help thin bile, thereby improving its flow and helping your liver work to the best of its abilities. It also imparts a beautiful light red color to the water that I find lovely and refreshing. Mint contains menthol, which gives your liver a boost by encouraging bile to flow into the duodenum. A little lime works in the same way the menthol does. Combined, these ingredients help your bodies detox system work better than ever.

You will need…

-1/2-1 red beet
-1/4 cup of chopped, fresh, peppermint leaves
-Juice of ½ lime
-1-2 liters of fresh water

Directions

1. Rinse and slice the beet, placing it immediately into 1-2 liters of fresh water (depending on how concentrated you want the flavor to be.
2. Chop up the mint and add it into the water along with the lime juice (add in the solid part of the lime after squeezing out the juice.)
3. Infuse and chill for 12-24 hours in the refrigerator before drinking. Serve in a glass with ice. This will last for 4 days in the fridge.

2. No More Mercury

Who said that apples and oranges can’t go together? Apples and oranges contain pectin, the same ingredient that puts the gel in gelatin. Pectin will bind willingly to heavy metals, allowing them to be easily flushed from the system. This nifty trick gives your liver a helping hand and helps keep it in tip top shape. In oranges, most of the pectin is in the pith (the white part on the peel) or the membrane between the segments, so be sure to leave the peel and membrane on the fruit. For this particular drink, I enjoy eating the fruit in the glass while I drink it.

You will need…

-2-3 oranges, cut into chunks
-3 apples, cut into chunks
-1-2 liters of water

Directions

Slice up the apples and oranges into large chunks, leaving the skin/peel on, and place in a pitcher with fresh water. Infuse for 24 hours before serving in glasses with ice.