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.