Our 5 Favorite Drinks for A Radiance Reset

After a season of indulgence, January is the time to unwind the effects of all the extravagances and get back to clean and healthy. If you drank a little more than usual, filled your plate a little fuller, opted for the dessert more often than not, and saw more of the wee hours, it’s time for a radiance reset. Improve your sleep schedule. Adjust your diet to get plenty of fiber, healthy fats, antioxidant and fruits and veg. And try our favorite drinks for detox and rejuvenation.

Green tea anything. With its exceptionally high content of antioxidant polyphenols and carotenoids, green tea has been shown to enhance skin’s elasticity and density, improve texture, strengthen barrier function, and increase blood flow and oxygen delivery to skin cells. One of our favorites Genmaicha, green tea infused with roasted brown rice to give it a nutty, earthy flavor. Makes a great mid-morning pick-me-up.  

Pomegranate Basil Lemon Detox Water. Loaded with antioxidant goodness, pomegranate is also a great source of vitamin C and fiber, and it has a wonderful tart/sweet flavor. Basil doesn’t just make great pesto; it’s actually a powerfully medicinal herb that acts as an analgesic (pain reducer), anti-inflammatory, adaptogen (stress reducer), immune-booster, liver protector, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory. Among its many benefits, lemon strengthens the immune system, aids digestion, and cleanses the stomach. It’s a powerful antioxidant and essential to the synthesis of collagen.

Try mixing two tablespoons of pomegranate seeds, with four or five thin lemon slices, four basil leaves (finely chopped), a squeeze of honey (to taste), and six ounces of still or sparkling water. We like sparkling. Muddle it all up. Use the back of your spoon to crush some of the pomegranate arils and release their flavor. You can make it in a larger batch to keep on hand for a couple of days, in which case, use still water to avoid it going flat. If you’re like us, you’ll want a spoon to fish out and devour the pomegranate seeds when you get to the bottom of the glass.

Cucumber Coconut Water. The classic spa refresher gets an update with coconut water. More than a pleasant sip, this drink is loaded with health and skin benefits. Cucumbers are high in vitamin C, beta-carotene, manganese, molybdenum, antioxidants, and potassium. They also contain lignans, which may offer protection from cancer. Coconut water has a range of beneficial vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, amino acids, cytokines, enzymes, and antioxidants. Put one sliced cucumber (skin on, there are nutrients in there!) into a two-quart pitcher. Fill with coconut water. Let it sit for at least two hours to infuse flavor. It will keep for two days in the refrigerator.

Chamomile Cardamom Tea. Chamomile tea long known as a soothing sleep-inducer is also powerfully antioxidant and anti-bacterial. Cardamom is loaded with iron and manganese, two minerals that boost cellular metabolism and provide oxygen to tissues. Combine the two, and you get a skin-supporting super drink that’s also soothing and warming on a winter’s eve. To a brewed cup of chamomile tea, add a dash of vanilla extract, and two crushed cardamom pods. Add almond milk and honey to taste.

Turmeric Tonic. We’ve written about this one before, fresh turmeric and ginger root, lemon, coconut water, honey. This spicy shot of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial goodness protects cells, boosts metabolism, and aids digestion. Make it in batches. Keep it in the fridge. Drink it every morning. This will make you forget all about your morning O.J. Find the recipe here.