If you’re looking to immediately get your mind and body back on the straight and slim after an overindulgence, this lil’ drink is your ticket!
We always giggle when we think that as kids we were unknowingly making “detox” drinks, similar to the ones we make now, only we were making them for a very different purpose. When we were growing up, we spent most of our days at our best friend, Mary’s house, and often when we couldn’t think of anything to do, we’d make concoctions in her kitchen. Although most of our experiments included making new snacks or meals, surprisingly, one of our favorite creations started out as our attempt to make a floral scented perfume out of apples, pears and mint, yet ended up smelling so delicious that we drank it! We loved the taste and the smell and it was so refreshing that we decided to sell it at the end of Mary’s driveway in lieu of our typical lemonade stand–only we marketed it as both a yummy drink and fruity perfume, so that people could choose which they wanted to do with it. If they were thirsty, they could drink it–and if they were sweaty and wanted to smell better they could splash it on their body– just like we did! 🙂
Ironically, now as registered dietitians, we actually know that those very same foods contain potent antioxidants that help to keep the body healthy–and we’re all over them. 🙂 This delish Apple Pear “Detox” Spa Water was inspired by our early experimentations. And although your body is equipped to detox and cleanse itself on its own, naturally, certain health-promoting foods and drinks, assist it in its process. The ingredients in this spa water assists the body in its’ detox process by mopping up damaging free radicals and fighting inflammation, so the body can focus on detoxing and cleansing itself the best it can! Drinking these beneficial nutrients helps lessen the burden on the body’s system caused by poor diet, pollution and stress. Plus, it helps you to lose the bloat and puff–and helps to prevent sugar cravings! (Read below). 🙂
Psst… looking for more “Detox” drinks? Please feel free to search this site—and here are a few to try:
Apple Cider Vinegar & Lime “Detox” Drink
Cucumber Blueberry Water Flush
How does this drink help you?
This drink not only tastes awesome so it encourages you to drink, it helps to flush bloat and puffiness by helping to fight constipation (hello, flat belly!) and by keeping irritants moving out of your intestinal tract along with the wastes and toxins. And if you’ve overdone it with a salty meal or had Chinese food the night before, it quickly restores normal hydration status by flushing excess salt (goodbye bloat!). Plus, it’s a good source of potassium to help counteract sodium.
Drink this dehydration buster to keep your joints well lubricated and your skin glowing (hydrated skin looks youthful, supple and healthy!).
It helps to prevent sweet cravings: For starters, simply drinking this healthy drink takes up space in your stomach, preventing you from feeling overly hungry. When you’re hungry, it’s hard to make a rationale decision about what to eat and it’s easy to give into sweet cravings (or that candy on your co-workers desk). And although you may not realize it, as you hydrate your body with this slightly sweet and tangy elixir, it helps to carry blood, oxygen and nutrients throughout your body, energizing you so that your brain doesn’t crave a quick pick-me-up (i.e. sugar). If you often wake up craving sugar, try drinking a large glass of this first and see how you feel, if you’re like us and our clients, you’ll be pretty excited about what it does to set you back on the healthy train!
Here are the other superstars in this drink:
Apples. Yeees! You probably know by now that we’ve both had one every day since high school, when our love affair with them began. 😉 An apple a day may just keep the doctor away! The powerful flavonoids in apples mop up damage caused by toxins, pollution, smoke and stress so the body can heal more quickly. The flavonoids also keep your heart healthy. Plus, apples have a good dose of vitamin C, to help mop up damage caused by free radicals and boost immunity.
Pears. Pears and apples have a lot in common, they both are packed with antioxidants and phytonutrients to keep your body healthy and to fend off harmful invaders. Like apples, pears are rich in vitamin C, a rock star when it comes to healthy skin and boosting immunity. Pears also contain vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that protects you against free radical damage and heart disease. Plus, they’re a good source of potassium, so they counteract sodium and the bloat that comes along with it.
Spearmint. (can sub any mint) We like to think of mint as a peace maker in the body It eases indigestion and calms the stomach, likely by improving the flow of bile through the stomach, which helps to speed and ease digestion. Thanks in part to it’s anti-inflammatory antioxidant rosmarinic acid, it “calms your insides” to ease the havoc inside your body!
Apple cider vinegar (ACV). We like to splash this health boosting elixir in whenever we can! As we’ve mentioned in some of our other recipes that include ACV (remember our Apple Cider Vinegar Lime “Detox” Drink?) it might be the little kick you need to help with controlling weight. A small amount may help control blood sugar levels when you drink it before eating. There may be a link between acetic acid, found in ACV and it’s starch blocking properties, making your body unable to digest starches consumed during a meal. Less starch being digested over time could mean a little less fat on your body.
Apple Pear “Detox” Spa Water
1 serving (12oz)
Ingredients
¼ apple of your choice, sliced into thin slivers, skin on
¼ pear type of your choice, sliced into thin slivers, skin on
1 sprig of spearmint or mint of your choice
12 ounces of water
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
Ice to chill
Directions
- After washing fruit thoroughly, slice apple and pear into thin slices and add to a large glass. Use a wooden spoon (or regular spoon) to slightly mash and breakdown the fruit.
- Add the mint to the glass. Lightly bruise the leaves of the mint by very gently mashing it to release the natural extracts and oils which will make for a relaxing and cooling experience.
- Add water and ice. Splash in apple cider vinegar..
- Add water and ice as needed. Discard and replace fruit and spearmint when no longer flavorful or by the end of the day.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving (1 serving is 12 oz): 4 Calories, 0 g Fat, 0 g Saturated Fat, 0 mg Cholesterol, 7 mg Sodium, 1 g Carbohydrate, 0 g Fiber, 1 g Sugar, 0 g Protein
Note: You’re simply infusing the water with flavors and all natural nutrients from the fruits and mint, so the calories are negligible.
- ¼ apple of your choice, sliced into thin slivers, skin on
- ¼ pear type of your choice, sliced into thin slivers, skin on
- 1 sprig of spearmint or mint of your choice
- 12 ounces of water
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- Ice to chill
- After washing fruit thoroughly, slice apple and pear into thin slices and add to a large glass. Use a wooden spoon (or regular spoon) to slightly mash and breakdown the fruit.
- Add the mint to the glass. Lightly bruise the leaves of the mint by very gently mashing it to release the natural extracts and oils which will make for a relaxing and cooling experience.
- Add water and ice. Splash in apple cider vinegar..
- Add water and ice as needed. Discard and replace fruit and spearmint when no longer flavorful or by the end of the day.