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Sometimes the extra 5 pounds you want to lose is just bloating. Whether you’re trying to shed the first or last 5, an easy place to start is with a detox drink. Try these tasty sips from Dr. Luiza Petre, MD, director of the Medi-Weightloss Clinics. They can used to detox and offload the inflammation that leads weight gain. We’re keeping these recipes in rotation even after those extra pounds are history!
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Potassium Anti-Bloat Smoothie
“Excess salt leads to bloating but potassium relieves that puffy feeling by balancing and circulating body fluids,” says Dr. Petre. The potassium-rich ingredients in this smoothie are coconut water, bananas and cucumbers. Cukes have also been shown to inhibit the activity of pro-inflammatory enzymes. Blend a half of a cup of coconut water with one banana and ne cucumber along with a small piece of fresh ginger root and ice. The ginger will soothe your digestive track and alleviate bloat.
Watermelon Mint Detox Juice
“Water is a natural diuretic which means drinking it can help your body eliminate the extra water it's holding on to,” says Dr. Petre. Watermelon is 93 percent water plus it has potassium to reverse the bloating effects of salt. Combine fresh watermelon with mint leaves and lime juice for a refreshing and body-friendly drink. Dr. Petre says that mint leaves dissolve excess gas in your middle that could cause bloating. And lime has potassium plus vitamin C to shoo toxins and free radicals out of your body.
Raspberry (Ice) Tea
Berries have lots of water to battle bloat but raspberries win first place in the belly battle. Why? They’re high in fiber to help food move through your system quickly before it can cause gas and puffiness. “Studies suggest raspberries may actually assist in weight loss because they contain compounds that could increase the production of leptin, the appetite suppressing hormone. Use them for tea along with cinnamon (it helps you pass gas!). Place a cinnamon stick into a cup of hot tea. Boil some fresh raspberries until they are soft enough to push through a strainer and then into the tea. Add ice if you like it chilled.
Green Tea Pineapple Drink
Create an anti-bloat powerhouse with green tea, ginger and pineapple. Blend fresh chunks of pineapple with a cup of green tea, a small piece of fresh ginger plus ice. Green tea is a natural anti-bloating diuretic that also has a lot of antioxidants. Ginger keeps your digestive track running smoothly. Pineapple has potassium – the number one enemy of salt bloat– plus lots of enzymes to ease digestion.
Avocado Blueberry Creamy Dream
It never occurred to us that avocado would make a great addition to a healthy smoothie. But it makes total sense! They’re an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant packed ingredient that thickens the drink to make it feel like a real treat. Avocados are naturally high in unsaturated fatty acids, fiber, vitamins A, C, E, K, and many B vitamins as well as potassium and magnesium. Plus much of it is composed of water and fiber, and both help keep you feeling full. Blend half of an avocado with fiber-filled blueberries, half a banana and a touch of honey.
