What is behind detox drinks?
In spring, magazines and recipe books abound with promises of detox drinks. Water flavoured with special ingredients, ginger green tea, spices, lemon, herbs (mint or verbena) or vegetables, depending on the recipes. Are these promises of health, skin glow or fitness genuine and efficient?
Fake or genuine benefits?
Let’s be clear: for there to be genuine benefits, there has to already be an underlying issue. If our body is intoxicated, it will let you know! The liver is there to do the job and the idea of homemade detox is sort of that of a nice hot bath: beneficial and relaxing above all, but with no impact on toxins - if present. In any case, detox drinks lead to more water intake. Reminder: the required water intake lies between 1.5 and 2 litres every day (depending on the age, weight and movement). The advantage of flavoured waters and detox drinks is that they do not contain sugar. As such, they simply add pleasure in hydration. No need for a detox cure to drink and vary the flavours!
Lemon juice, green tea and ginger
Detox recipes often have these three ingredients listed as beneficial. Lemon or lime and their acid taste supposedly have alkalising properties on our body in addition to their citrus and quenching flavour. We use them in juices (fresh lemon juice, no drops) and zests if they are untreated. Another honoured plant-based remedy: tea and more specifically green tea for its antioxidant properties and soft flavour which blends well with many fruits and spices - as well as its low theine content. Ginger, both invigorating and spicy, can be greeted for more intensity or simply sliced. It is renowned for its anti-nausea properties and for helping with digestion. Finally, in the herbs category, mint leaves purify the breath and make drinks even fresher: fresh or dried mint - depending on the season. The recipe for detox water is simple: combine these elements to taste in a jug or glass bottle. Add water and let them infuse in the fridge for at least 6 hours. Simple combinations which work well in the kitchen… and in homemade drinks!
The zero waste benefits of fruit and vegetable drinks
In many so-called detox waters, fruits and vegetables play an important part. It allows to discover tricks to better use them: cucumber ends, fennel peels can both easily add flavour to water as long as they are organic. Wash them thoroughly before using them! Combine carrots, cucumber, strawberry depending on your taste and what you’d like! A few verbena or mint leaves or even basil will go nicely: strawberry-basil, cucumber-verbena - these recipe ideas are even better with a bit of lemon juice. Good to know: compared to fruit juice, the quantity of vitamins contained in these drinks are benign. To each their own detox drink… even if it really isn’t one, it helps us drink tall glasses of water regularly!