Detox Series 3 – Water detox recipes

The first two blogs in this series focused on detoxification of mouth and skin – two most important gateways of our bodies. Today I am going to show you how we can make the water we drink act like a natural detoxifier for our bodies.

Detox Series 1 -Ancient practice to detoxify your body through Oil Pulling

Detox Series 2 – Dry brushing for skin detoxification

Did you know our bodies are naturally tuned to detoxify itself from all the unwanted chemicals and toxins we are exposed to on a regular basis? Our job is to support the detoxification process by either eliminating/reducing the toxin exposure or providing the body right tools to make the process easier.

One of the natural ways to flush toxins is through the water we drink. We all have heard it million times, drink more water. Water allows your kidneys to filter toxins and transport nutrients. If you don’t drink enough water then the toxins will start building up in your body leading to a weakened immune system.

Today, I am going to share different types of detox water you can drink depending on the condition you are targeting for.

1. Full Body Cleansing with HONEY-LEMON-WATER: If you are low in energy when you wake up in the morning and feel tired throughout the day – you need a full body cleanse. Having warm water with honey and lemon first thing in the morning stimulates the liver to flush out the toxins from the body. The combination of lemon and honey in water is a rich source of antioxidants, help boost energy. As an added benefit, it helps burn fat which can lead to weight loss.

         How to make it:

• Boil a cup of water and allow it to cool until it is just warm to touch.
• Add a teaspoonful of raw, unfiltered honey and stir well to dissolve.
• Squeeze the juice of half a lemon into the honey water, give it a stir and drink up.

2. Stomach cleanse with this SPICE WATER: If you suffer from frequent bouts of acidity and headaches, sipping this water in the morning and throughout the day help reduce bloating, constipation, indigestion, and acidity. Stomach disorders could lead to an incomplete elimination of bodily waste and the toxins are reabsorbed by the body. Having this water 30 minutes before and 10 minutes after your meals will help cleanse your digestive tract and eliminate toxins.

         How to make it:

• Boil a cup of water
• In a cup, add ½ tsp of each : fenugreek seeds (methi dana), fennel seeds (saunf), bishop seeds (ajwain), cumin seeds (jeera)
•  Pour the boiling water into the cup with the seeds mixture
•  Cover and let it steep for a couple of hours
• Take the water from this cup and drink
• You can refill the water 2 more times before discarding the seeds 

3. Respiratory support with STAR WATER: If you are often down with viral and flu infections quite often, it might be a good idea to cleanse your lungs with this antiviral/antifungal/antibacterial water. Star anise, the primary ingredient of this detox water, contains shikimic acid, which is used in the production of anti-influenza drugs. Another ingredient in this water is black cardamom, which is used to prevent and relieve cold and flu symptoms. Regular intake of black cardamom and star anise water will boost your immunity and protect you from respiratory infections. You can make this water and sip it throughout the day when during flu season to protect and prevent the upper respiratory illness.

     How to make it:

• Boil 2 cups of water
• Add 1 black cardamoms and let it boil for few minutes till water is reduced to half
• Add ½ tsp of cinnamon powder
• Take 2 star-anise in a cup
• Pour the boiling water and the black cardamoms in the cup
• Cover and let it steep for 15 minutes
• Drink warm, add honey (optional)

4. Stress management with TULSI WATER: Tulsi (Holy Basil), the sacred Indian plant is given that status for a reason. It is one of nature’s most powerful medicines. Tulsi not only helps protect the body from the degenerative effects of stress, but it also repairs the body from its damage. It is a powerful detox herb that helps reduce inflammation, lowers cholesterol, eliminates toxins and improves digestion. Tulsi is also a natural aphrodisiac, improves stamina and reduces anxiety.

     How to make it:

• Boil a cup of water
• Add ½ tsp of Tulsi leaves
• Cover and let it steep for 15 minutes
• Strain and drink

5. Reduce inflammation with TURMERIC-GINGER WATER: Inflammation is body’s defense mechanism against external “attackers” but when the internal emergency alarm fails to shut off when it should, the inflammation becomes chronic. Chronic inflammation destroys the healthy tissues and creates pain in the body. It is a result of imbalanced and weak immune system. If you are experiencing unexplained pain in your body, most likely you are dealing with chronic inflammation. Both turmeric and ginger are excellent anti-inflammatory foods so this water can cleanse the body and reduce the inflammation.

       How to make it:

• Boil 1 cup of water
• Add 1 tsp of grated turmeric and ginger each, and then bring the heat down to a simmer
• Add ½ tsp of black pepper
• Allow the mixture to steep for 10-15 minutes.
• Strain and enjoy with your meals

There is another level of water detox that requires you to drink only water for 24 hours – no food and no other drink. Have you tried water fasting? How was your experience?

I hope you can benefit from these different types of detox water. Please share it with your friends and family who may also benefit from these water detox recipes.