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With endorsements from celebrities like the Kardashians and fitness models with six-pack abs, it’s easy to see why social media is abuzz over packaged detox teas right now. On its own, tea boasts a number of natural detoxing properties. But the packaged kind — the teas you see splattered all over Instagram and Pinterest — promises gulpers those same results (just on steroids).
However, recent studies have shown that many of the most popular packaged teas aren’t necessarily healthier than the real thing. In fact, they can even be associated with a slew of unintended health consequences.
Of course, that’s not to say that all detox teas are bad. You just need to be in charge of what ingredients go in them. Here are six healthy, all-natural detoxing tea recipes you can whip up in your own blender by tomorrow morning.
Apple cider vinegar detox tea
Despite apple cider vinegar’s sharp-smelling aftermath, many beauty bloggers rave about it as an all-natural alternative to conditioner. And the benefits don’t just stop there — it can be used as relief for constipation, itchy skin and even as an energy booster. But if gulping down the acidic stuff straight from the bottle isn’t your thing (we feel ya), this easy-to-drink detox recipe should do the trick.
What you’ll need:
30-60 oz. of water (roughly two glasses), 4 Tbsp Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar (make sure there are chunks floating in the jar), 4 Tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 pinch of cayenne pepper (optional) and 4 Tbsp honey (raw if possible).
Recipe: Bembu
Green detox tea
From helping to lower blood pressure to (possibly) preventing cancer, it’s no wonder that Chinese medicine has tapped into green tea’s detoxifying properties for thousands of years. And really, who are we to mess with a good thing? All you’ll need for this blend is some old-fashioned green tea, a few additional fruits and a splash of lemon and sweetener (if you prefer).
What you’ll need:
1 green tea bag, 1 slice of lemon, 1 tsp honey or stevia (for sweetening), 2 strawberries (sliced) and 2 slices of cucumber.
Recipe: Skinny Mom
Matcha detox tea latte
Although you’re probably best off not trying to pronounce its name out loud (it’s mah-cha, by the way), matcha tea — or green tea’s leafier Japanese cousin — has been trending in health food shops and restaurants across the country. Made from the young leaves of Camellia sinensis plants, it’s stored away from light and oxygen to preserve its antioxidant properties and is sad to contain calming, memory-boosting effects.
What you’ll need:
This one’s simple: 1 cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk and half tsp matcha powder (available in most health food shops).
Recipe: Prevention.com
Ginger detox tea
Not just your favorite carbonated hangover cure, ginger boasts a number of detoxifying properties in tea form, too. It’s primarily a digestive aid, speeding up the removal of toxins in your gut and improving overall circulation. And did you know it can enhance your complexion, too? Ginger is high in Vitamin C, one of the key ingredients in fighting aging effects.
What you’ll need:
Half inch of raw, organic ginger, boiled water (enough to submerge the ginger in a boiling pot, and 1 lemon.
Recipe: Living Pretty Naturally
Watermelon/cucumber or lemon/lime basic DIY detox tea
Detox teas are meant to cleanse the body’s circulatory and digestive systems with a purified, all-natural concoction. So it would make sense that a tea without a long list of complicated ingredients might boast the best effects, right? Not to mention, this tasty, refreshing no-frills recipe is perfect to sip on a warm summer’s day.
What you’ll need:
1-2 liters of water, part of 1 watermelon or one cucumber, 1 lemon or lime, a handful of fresh mint leaves (approximately 10-13) and ice cubes.
Recipe: EverydayRoots.com
The ultimate detox tea
If you’re serious about detoxification and sipping tasty, refreshing drinks really isn’t your goal, you might want to consider a detox tea that runs on all cylinders. This 15-ingredient mega-tea might not taste so stellar going down, but you’re sure to feel superhuman afterword.
What you’ll need:
1 and a half cups of spring or distilled water, 4 Tbsp dandelion leaf, 3 Tbsp dandelion root, 2Tbsp burdock root, 3 Tbsp milkthistle seed (crushed), 3 Tbsp cleavers, 4 Tbsp lemon balm, 4 Tbsp pau d’arco, 4 Tbsp horsetail, 5 Tbsp red clover, 2 Tbsp chickweed, 2 Tbsp angelica root, 3 Tbsp yarrow herb, 5 Tbsp nettle leaf and 4 tbsp plaintain. (Phew!)
Recipe: MyNewRoots.com
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