Can Detox Water Help You Lose Weight?

One of the hottest trends to hit Instagram, and emphatically promoted on the popular The Dr. Oz Show, detox waters claim to purify the body, alter the body’s pH balance for the better, and rapidly assist dieters in shedding extra pounds. But do these claims hold any…water?

The Detox Water Trend

Detox waters are fruit and vegetable infused waters that have been all the rage on social media and in the diet and nutrition industry. From simple warm lemon water in the morning, to elaborate pitchers of water with floating lemon, lime, cucumber, mint and other herbs, these drinks are intended to be consumed in large quantities throughout the day. Touted for the miraculous ability to aid in weight loss while eliminating harmful toxins, it’s unclear whether these drinks do, in fact, promote weight loss on their own.

While there hasn’t been much research on the subject of the effects of detox water as they relate to weight loss, there are several benefits to adding these refreshments to your daily routine.

Hydration

We all know that getting enough water is essential to maintaining better health, but a Virginia Tech clinical trial also confirms that drinking two glasses of water before a meal can lead to improved weight loss results.1 When following the same low-calorie diet, participants in the study that drank water immediately before each meal lost 5 pounds more than the control group over the course of 12 weeks. Though the exact reasons for the increase in weight loss aren’t clearly defined, it’s thought that filling the stomach with zero calorie liquids before a meal can cause us to feel fuller for longer and reduce the temptation to overeat during a meal.

In addition to the satiating effects of water before a meal, a study published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism suggests that drinking more water than is typically recommended can boost your body’s metabolic rate by over 30%. In the study, female participants were instructed to drink 17 ounces of water three times a day, 30 minutes before each meal.

For some, getting that much water each day can be a challenge. So, infusing water with fresh fruits and herbs can make it more palatable and easier to consume.

Antioxidants

While antioxidants, in and of themselves, may not have the ability to help you shed pounds like magic, there are some great benefits to including them more frequently in your diet. For example, mint has been widely known to work well as an appetite suppressant, which could help you cut back on snacking between meals. Additionally, citrus fruit peels contain the enzyme D-limonene, which can stimulate your liver to aid in flushing out toxins and promote healthy digestive function.

While not a miracle cure for weight loss, detox waters do have some distinct benefits for those seeking to improve their overall health and lose weight. Coupled with a healthy, whole foods diet, adding detox waters to your daily routine could be the kick start needed to help you feel great and stay on your weight loss path.