In recent times 'detox' has become a consumer buzz word.
The importance of staying hydrated is nothing new to most people.
The body relies on the water you drink to flush out the toxins.
Though water may not necessarily neutralize toxins, it does help the liver and kidneys function properly to get rid of the toxins.
Detox water, a glamorous name for infused water, comes with the claim of enhancing and accelerating this process.
This water comes infused with fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
Detox water is also often recommended in weight loss plans, especially in place of high-sugar drinks like sugary soda and fruit juice.
The inexpensive and flavourful way of drinking water has revolutionized the world of fitness in a massive way.
How to make detox water?
Chop up some fruits, vegetables, and herbs of your choice and add it to hot or cold water according to your preference.
Crushing the ingredients can help with the faster infusion of flavor into the water.
Some commonly used recipes include:
- Lemon, cucumber, and mint
- Strawberry and basil
- Apple and cinnamon
- Lemon and ginger
- Grapefruit
- Orange and lemon
What does detox water claim to do?
- Eliminate toxins in the body
- Aid weight loss
- Boost immunity
- Clear skin
Does detox water eliminate toxins from the body?
Detox products are often consumed with the aim of eliminating toxins from the body for a healthier life.
But the truth is your body has got the toxin elimination process pretty sorted.
The six organs that play a huge role in detoxifying the body are:
- Liver
- Kidneys
- Lungs
- Lymph
- Colon
- Skin
There's no published report about any particular diet/product that speeds up this process.
Water, in general, aids this process by working with the kidneys and the liver.
However, throwing in a few fruits and vegetables into water doesn't seem to make any difference.
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Does detox water aid weight loss?
Drinking water increases your metabolic rate and helps with weight loss.
According to a study, overweight individuals who had half a liter of water before their meals lost 40% more weight than those who didn't.
This can be attributed to the rise in metabolism and reduction in appetite after water consumption.
Drinking the recommended amount of water at regular intervals is itself sufficient to aid weight loss.
Packing it with some flavor does not necessarily contribute to increased weight loss, but just might make people consume more water due to the flavorful taste.
The infused flavor may also make you reach out for sugary drinks less.
Drinking infused water is a wonderful option if you are looking for a way to add more water to your diet.
However, as the sole vehicle to weight loss, detox water just won't cut it.
Optimizing your weight loss plans with your DNA raw data
Genetic factors influence how your body processes certain nutrients.
This may have a direct or indirect effect on weight loss or weight gain. For instance, the gene "Apolipoprotein A2" (APOA2) is involved in the production of a particular protein, which affects how your body responds to saturated fats.
If you happen to be one who possesses a variant of this particular gene, no matter how much you control your calorie intake, you could still be gaining weight.
Yet, if you cut down saturated fat from your diet, weight loss may just as well be a cakewalk!
It may not always be this straightforward.
It is important to note that there are other genes, variables, and lifestyle habits that impact your weight.
While genetic testing may not have answers to all your questions, it can serve as a guide for outlining a diet plan that is based on results as opposed to generic, cookie-cutter plans.
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Does detox water help boost immunity?
This advantage is attributed to the nutrients from the infused fruits and vegetables.
When eaten by themselves, fruits and vegetables indeed help the immune system of our body.
In fact, there is a lot of research to support enhanced immunity on regular consumption of vitamin C.
But merely the infusion of fruits and vegetables in water does not provide enough nutrition to support this claim.
Does detox water clear up your skin?
Some people claim that detox water flushes toxins from your skin and improves its appearance.
Hydration, in general, is important for healthy skin.
A Nutrition and Health Research on skin hydration revealed that additional water intake resulted in improvements of softness, smoothness, and moisturizing of the skin.
Adding those fruits and vegetables serve as a fancy embellishment to make water more flavorful, thereby resulting in increased consumption of it.
Your genes hold the secret to a healthier-looking skin
MC1R or melanocortin-1 receptor gene plays an important role in the normal pigmentation process in the body. Several SNPs are associated with this MC1R gene.
They are primarily linked to fair skin, red or light hair, and freckles.
They also show a varying risk of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.
Research has identified several other mutations, which result in alterations to the normal structure and function of a gene, in many skin conditions, from eczema to melanoma.
Even acne, a researcher named Hugo Hecht found in 1960, has a hereditary component.
While lifestyle can overtake what your genes are capable of, it is also important to address the problem from its roots.
Upload your DNA raw data here to get one step closer to achieving a healthy-looking skin
What does detox water actually do?
It is no secret that hydration is vital for maintaining good health.
So the bottom line here is that anything that helps you drink more water is a good thing.
Adding fruits to the water is more of a personal preference rather than a health benefit.
There is no research that actually backs up any nutritional advantages from drinking detox water.
All the benefits that have been associated with drinking detox water are merely the effects of increased water consumption.
That being said, a good thing about detox water is that it does not do you any harm; no downsides to drinking detox water have been reported so far.
So, if infusing water with fruits and vegetables helps you drink more of it and reduces your cravings for sugary drinks, then you should continue doing what works for you.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6163888/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=17446329
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25522674
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16827695/
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