Jenna Danielle

Branding, Marketing, Tacos & Sarcasm

Detox Waters

Happy Tuesday!

We’ve already talked about why water matters, so today I want to give you some ideas for infused or “detox” waters.

First, can I really detox my system by drinking these waters?

In a nutshell, no. Drinking these waters alone without changing your diet just won’t cut it. The truth is that your liver and kidneys are the filters of your body and can pretty much detoxify your system without any help. Most detoxing diets require cutting out fatty, processed, sugary and salty foods, so the result is feeling lighter and less bloated. These waters can help you stay hydrated whether or not you’re participating in a detox diet.

I love infusing waters in my fridge because they’re cold and tasty and you can grab them when you’re on the go. I drink a lot of water daily and some days it’s nice to have something different.

Here are my favorite combinations for infusing detox waters. I usually get regular lemons, but there was a sale on Meyer lemons today so I grabbed a bag of them. These are a cross between a lemon and a mandarin orange. They’re tangy and sour and a little sweet–they made these waters really tasty!

Watermelon & spearmint.
Meyer lemon, spearmint & cucumber.
Meyer lemon & ginger.

Any peels you’re leaving on need to be thoroughly washed. I peeled and grated the ginger to get the most flavor out of it before putting it in the water. Ginger is so good for your tummy! It’s one of my favorite flavors, too. Mint is also great for your stomach. I love brewing a big batch of spearmint tea and putting it in the fridge to make iced tea.

Whatever way you do it, make sure to drink at least a gallon of water every day.

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Why Water Matters

A large majority of Americans are chronically dehydrated.

Dehydration can cause your body to retain more fat, it’s also a cause of headaches, fatigue and brain fog. Your body needs water!

Coffees, sodas, teas and sports drinks do contain water, but can actually act as diuretics because it takes large amounts of body-water and alkalizing minerals to neutralize the acids in them.

Obviously, we’re all made wonderfully and completely different, so needs can vary between individuals. The Mayo Clinic suggests:

124 ounces of water per day for the average man

92 ounces of water per day for the average woman

And that’s just for a moderately active adult in temperate climates. Higher activity—like working out 3-5 times per week—drastically increases your body’s need. Drinking enough water allows your digestive tract to absorb nutrients and dispel any waste and toxins and helps to keep food cravings away.

Craving sweets? You could just be thirsty:

“When you’re dehydrated, it can be difficult for some nutrients and organs like the liver which use water to release some glycogens and other components of your energy stores, so you can actually get cravings for food. While you can crave anything from chocolate to a salty snack, cravings for sweets are more common because your body may be experiencing difficulty breaking down glycogen to release glucose into the bloodstream to use as fuel.” –John Higgins, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine at the McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, Chief of Cardiology at Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital, and Director of Exercise Physiology, Institute for Sports Medicine and Human Performance

So the next time you feel hungry outside of normal meal times, drink a glass of water. It could be all you need to stop the craving and feel better. The same goes for when you feel an inkling of a headache:  if it’s from dehydration, drinking a large glass of water and then continuously sipping can stop it in it’s tracks.

Tired of plain water? Try sprucing it up with any of these combinations:

lemon, mint, cucumber
watermelon and basil
strawberry and lime
mint

Check out my article on detox waters here!

Challenge yourself: drink a gallon of water every day for one week and record any changes you feel and see.