5 Refreshing Lemonade Detox Recipes for a Healthy Cleanse
Are you feeling bloated? Gassy? Uncomfortable? Or is lousy breath slowly becoming the bane of your existence? Luckily, the solution to all these problems may be as simple as a detox lemonade.
Before we talk about detox lemonade recipes, let us say that a ”detox” isn’t a sure-shot way to remove every last toxin from your body. That’s not it works. In the context of this article, detox means a mechanism that may boost metabolism, improve immune system functioning, and relieve digestive problems.
With that in mind, let’s look at some delicious and beneficial detox lemonade recipes. We also discuss the unique benefits of lemon in your daily diet.
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Lemonade Detox Recipes: Our Top 5 Picks
If you plan to go on a lemonade cleanse, you’ll be happy to know that there’s no limit to the combinations of ingredients you can use. Here are our top five lemon detox recipes for you to try.
- Detox Lemonade with Honey
Most people only know honey to be a natural sweetener. But it’s also an anti-inflammatory agent with antibacterial and antioxidant properties.
The detox lemonade recipe below also contains cayenne, an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and capsaicin.
You’ll need the following ingredients for this recipe:
- Lemon juice (1 lemon)
- 1 teaspoon of honey
- A pinch of cayenne
- A pitch of ground ginger and cloves
- 1 cup of hot water
Add all ingredients except water to a cup. Then, pour hot water over them and stir with a spoon to mix correctly. Add a lemon slice for garnish.
- Detox Lemonade with Maple Syrup
The use of maple syrup is not limited to pancakes alone. It can also be added to freshly squeezed lemon juice for a soul-refreshing taste and many health benefits. Here’s the ingredient list for this lemonade cleanse recipe:
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons of organic maple syrup
- A dash of cayenne pepper
- Warm water
Combine all these ingredients in a cup of warm water and mix thoroughly. You can consume this refreshing drink immediately or save it for later.
- Lemon Ginger Water
Another way to clean lemonade is to blend lemon and fresh ginger for health benefits.
Ginger is known for treating intestinal gas, bloating, and constipation. It also contains antioxidants that protect your cells from free radicals, harmful molecules in the body.
You only need two ingredients for this detox lemonade:
- 3 slices of lemon
- 3 slices of ginger root
Fill a large glass with warm water and add ginger slices to it. Alternatively, you can use ground ginger. Then, add fresh lemon slices and stir the mixture gently. If the taste is a bit bitter or unpleasant, you can add orange juice for sweetness.
- Apple Cider Vinegar and Lemon Juice
Apple cider vinegar is rich in probiotics and flavonoids, such as caffeic acid, ferulic acid, and catechin.
Some studies have shown that apple cider vinegar can improve your health by lowering blood sugar and cholesterol. Some people also believe ACV to be effective in weight loss, although there’s not enough evidence to support this claim.
You only need a handful of ingredients to make this apple cider vinegar and lemon mix.
- 1 cup of cold water
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon of honey
Combine all ingredients in a tall glass of cold water. Cover it with a lid, shake gently, or whisk the ingredients together.
If you’re not a massive fan of honey, you can sweeten your drink with a date or maple syrup instead. Maple syrup also makes your drink vegan. If you want to amp up the antioxidant effect of this drink, add some turmeric or ginger to it.
- Detox Lemonade Recipe for Diabetics
If you have diabetes, you need to steer clear of excessive sweeteners. In this recipe, you use agave nectar instead. Here is the ingredient list:
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons of agave nectar
- 1 glass of water
- 1/10 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
Put all these ingredients in a glass of water and stir to dissolve them completely. You can drink it at room temperature or cool it in the refrigerator for a refreshing effect.
Does a Lemon Diet Work for Weight Loss?
Nowadays, there’s a viral, yet unsafe, trend of people following a liquid diet, such as the lemonade diet, for weight loss. Some people also couple their lemonade diet with laxative teas to lose weight quickly.
However, there’s no evidence that a laxative tea will help you lose weight. The only thing a laxative tea does is that it enhances bowel movement. Some people also use a combination of salt water flush, vegetable soup, and restrive diets to achieve their weight goals. Again, none of these methods are backed by scientific evidence.
No detox drink will help you in weight loss. Instead, you’d have to take a calorie deficit approach toward your goal. Cut out processed foods from your diet and reduce your daily calorie intake. Also, work out at least five times a week for best results.
The key is to eat a balanced diet without overconsumption. Eat everything in controlled portions and follow the serving suggestions recommended by your dietician or nutritional expert. You can also drink lemon water to stay cool and fresh throughout the day. However, don’t expect it to be your ”miracle” weight loss fix.
Benefits of Detox Lemonade
All the benefits of a lemonade detox recipe are linked to the inherent nutritional profile of lemons. Besides supporting heart and digestive health, lemons are also a rich source of vitamin C. Here are a few benefits of lemons.
Support Heart Health
The most notable benefit of lemons is that they contain vitamin C. You can get 31 milligrams of vitamin C from one lemon, which constitutes 51% of your required daily intake.
Significant research has shown that fruits and veggies containing vitamin C reduce your risk of stroke and other heart diseases.
Besides vitamins, the plant compounds and fiber in lemons are also good for reducing the risk of heart health. A study found that 24 grams of daily citrus fiber intake for 30 days helps reduce blood cholesterol levels.
Keep Kidney Stones at Bay
Kidney stones can be the worst health condition, if not the most painful. A lemonade detox drink can help reduce the risk of kidney stones due to its citric acid content.
Citric acid is known to prevent kidney stones, as it increases the pH and volume of urine. As a result, it prevents the formation of kidney stones in your body.
Provide Protection Against Anemia
Iron deficiency is a common cause of anemia, and lemons help increase iron absorption into the body.
Our bodies are well-suited to absorb iron from chicken, fish, and other sources, but we cannot absorb iron too well from plant sources. Eating lemons or fruits containing citric acid can improve iron absorption from plant-based foods.
Tips for a Lemonade Master Cleanse
A master cleanse a simple, natural detoxification program that has been used for centuries to cleanse the body of toxins and give it a fresh start. It’s different from a lemonade diet since you do not only live on liquids.
Instead, you also consume solid food and make lemonade a part of your dietary intake for its antioxidant effects. Here are some to make your master cleanse a success.
Fresh Squeezed Lemons
Whenever possible, use freshly squeezed lemons. They have the best flavor and keep your drinks fresh for longer.
Add Other Ingredients
You can add many other ingredients to lemonade to make it more nutritious and flavorful. Some include apple cider vinegar, cayenne pepper, and orange juice.
Adding extra ingredients gives you additional benefits. For example, apple cider vinegar improves skin health, while orange juice fills you with vitamins.
Drink Lemon Water at Room Temperature
Lemonade is undeniably the best drunk chilled. But if you make lemon water, it’s best to drink it at room temperature. When you drink ice cold, your body must spend more time heating it and yielding its digestive benefits.
Make a Fresh Batch
Whether you try one of the recipes listed above or use your recipe, it’s best to make a fresh batch every time. Lemon slices steeped for too long lose their flavor and nutrients over time. You can refrigerate lemonade for about one day and lemon water for up to two days.
Conclusion
A lemon detox can keep your body cool, refreshed, and healthy. You can drink lemonade throughout the day on hot days or occasionally in winter months. Depending on your taste and preferences, you can add other fruits or ingredients to detox lemonade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lemon Water Help in Weight Loss?
Lemon water itself does not support you in losing weight. However, it increases your water intake, which is often advised as a strategy to lose weight quickly.
Is Lemonade Cleanse Good for Hair Loss?
No evidence supports the benefits of a master cleanse for hair. It helps remove toxins from your body, but that’s pretty much it.
How Many Calories Does a Lemon Have?
One hundred grams of lemons contain 29 calories. If you add other ingredients to your detox lemonade to improve digestion or impart taste, you should determine the serving size accordingly.
Should You Add Sugar to Lemonade Detox Drinks?
We do not recommend adding sugar to your lemonade master cleanses drinks. Instead, use natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup for a taste. These sweeteners can make your recipe more delicious and beneficial.
Rahul is a nutritionist and personal trainer with 3+ years of experience in the field of health coaching. He specializes in nutrition science, with a keen eye for how food choices, lifestyle habits, and physical activity impact our bodies.