A Cucumber-Lemon-Ginger Detox and Cleansing Diet

A cucumber, lemon, ginger cleansing diet helps your body counteract fluid retention and provides it with vitamins and minerals. In addition, ginger aids with the absorption of nutrients.

Reviewed and approved by the pedagogue in physical education and nutritionist Elisa Morales Lupayante.

Written by Carolina Betancourth

Last update: 25 July, 2022

Enjoying good physical and emotional health is one of the keys to having a good quality of life. Many believe that one of the things you can do (and which could help give your body a real boost) is a detox and cleansing diet, which flushes waste out of the body.

Helping the body to get rid of any waste materials it doesn’t need could help all your organs and bodily systems to function more efficiently, allowing you to stay healthy.

What’s the claim behind the detox trend?

The detox trend states that human bodies accumulate toxins and waste which affect how they function and make them more susceptible to disease.

These toxins apparently accumulate in your body due to:

• A sedentary lifestyle
• Poor hydration (and regular consumption of soft drinks and hardly any water at all)
• Poor nutrition (too much refined sugar, fried foods, and ultra-processed products)
• Other bad lifestyle habits (smoking, alcoholism, excessive intake of sugar, etc.)

Some say you should try a detox diet to keep toxins from building up and making you sick. It involves giving up certain types of food (such as cakes and candy), while improving your dietary habits.

In addition, you’re to support the process through the consumption of a hydrating beverage made with certain natural ingredients and no sugar, stevia, or artificial sweeteners.

The detox trend

According to the detox trend, the idea is to drink a mixture of lemon, cucumber, and ginger water on an empty stomach. Throughout the rest of the day, it’s recommended to eat light but filling meals and drink plenty of water.

During a detox, it’s important to eliminate your consumption of:

• Salt
• Sugar
• Cakes and pastries
• Milk
• Refined flours
• Margarine and spreads
• Saturated and trans fats
• Processed foods
• Drinks such as flavored water, juice, sodas, teas, and similar products

The detox diet should be complemented with plenty of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and meats, which don’t only provide nutrients but satiate you.

Cucumber-lemon-ginger water

This drink promotes urination and hydrates your body and so, some believe it could help eliminate waste products via the urine. The ingredients have a high water content so they also believe it promotes weight loss.

Together, lemon, cucumber, and ginger help to detox the body and reduce any bloating or swelling, helping you look slimmer.

Ingredients

• A lemon
• ½ cucumber
• 1/2 a fresh ginger root
• A glass of water (200 ml – 6.75 ounces)
• A sprig of fresh mint

Preparation

• Wash the lemon, cucumber, and ginger, as well as the mint leaves
• Cut each of the ingredients into slices, without removing the peel
• Then, place them in the warm water
• Let the mixture sit overnight and drink it the following morning
• If you like, you can also add ice and honey to taste

What are the nutritional benefits of these ingredients?

Lemon, the main ingredient in a detox and cleansing diet

According to information from the Spanish Nutrition Foundation, lemon is a citrus fruit which, although popular for its high vitamin C and antioxidant content, also contains soluble fiber (found in the white layer just beneath the skin), limonoids (in the skin), and citrus flavonoids (in the skin and pulp).

Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant and also helps:

• Improve iron uptake
• Keep skin healthy
• Promote collagen production
• Supports the immune system

Thanks to its high acidity, fans of the detox diet also believe that lemon can:

• Improve digestion
• Reduce stomach inflammation
• Prevent constipation
• Regulate the absorption of fats

Ginger

Ginger root is a hot, zesty ingredient with digestive, antiemetic, and anti-inflammatory properties. When added to drinks, it acts as a sort of natural tonic that can help reduce discomfort.

One of its main active ingredients is gingerol, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Some studies have indicated that ginger may help to promote renal health in the case of kidney inflammation and other conditions. As, according to the detox trend, the kidneys play a fundamental role in removing waste from the body, this information becomes even more relevant.

Cucumber, a common ingredient in the detox diet

Cucumber is an ingredient that’s rich in water, giving it a certain diuretic effect on the body. Furthermore, it has a low carbohydrate content, making it ideal for anyone looking to lose weight. According to information from the Spanish Nutrition Foundation, it also contains a certain amount of folates, thiamine, and niacin.

Its greatest benefit for the body is its high content of vitamin C. As we saw earlier, this vitamin is good for a number of different reasons.

Because it helps to eliminate any fluids built-up in the body, and promotes the elimination of waste, it’s believed that cucumber can help “detox” the body.

Do you need to consult a nutritionist?

If you want to lose weight safely while still giving your body all the nutrients it needs, the best thing to do is consult a nutritionist before doing any detox diet. They’ll also be able to recommend the best options for you.

If you have any worries or doubts relating to your health or how you can achieve your goals in a safe and healthy way, book a check-up with your doctor for an evaluation and be sure to follow their instructions carefully.