Try a teatox to cleanse your body

Greasy snacks. Cheesy pasta. Shots. Glasses of wine. Curries and rice. Gooey desserts. The party season has come and gone, leaving your body to face the aftermath. If you’re planning an after-party purge to get your body back to how it was, we suggest you don’t just focus on detox foods. Try a teatox!

A teatox diet works around tea — one of the world’s most popular beverages —and enhances its health benefits by adding a variety of ingredients.

We all know that tea has a host of health benefits. A 2013 study from Italian, Dutch and American researchers found that tea can help lower your risk of stroke and heart disease, increase mood and mental performance, reduce blood pressure, and keep your energy up and weight down. Green tea is rich in antioxidants, which can reduce the oxidative stress and free radicals in the body. The latest entrant on the market, white tea, is also gaining in popularity.

Proponents of teatox diets claim results such as weight loss, detoxification and increased energy. You can either make your own teatox teas with ingredients like lemongrass, ginger, basil, turmeric and fennel, or you can try our simple recipes.

Ginger-Turmeric Tea

Ingredients: 2-3 cups water, 1 teaspoon powdered ginger, 1 teaspoon powdered turmeric, one lemon
Method: Boil water. Remove the pan from burner and add 1 teaspoon each of powdered ginger and powdered turmeric. Stir, cover and let sit for 10-15 minutes. Juice the lemon and split between the two cups. Enjoy.

Cinnamon Tea

Ingredients: Water, cinnamon powder
Method: Add a spoonful of cinnamon powder to two cups of water and let settle overnight. Heat the next day till the mixture comes to a boil. Strain and enjoy.

Digestive Tea

Ingredients: 1 part mint leaves, 1/8 part dried licorice root, a couple of cloves, a sprinkling of fennel, water

Method: Add all the ingredients to water and boil. Strain and enjoy this slimming tea after every meal.

Vitamin C Herbal Tea

Ingredients: Rose hips, lemongrass, cinnamon, hibiscus flower, fennel seeds, lemon peel, water
Method: Bring water to boil and remove from heat. Add 3 tablespoons of herb mixture. Cover and let brew for 15 minutes. Strain and enjoy.

Basil Tea with Lemon 

Ingredients: Basil leaves, lemon juice, water
Method: Cover a few basil leaves with hot water and allow to steep for 10 minutes. Add a dash of lemon juice before serving.