Beat the Bloat!

Yes, I'm back! After an unintentional blogging break (life got busy trying to get the kids finished up with school, and then a few days vacay) I am trying to get my blogging groove back. Of course, now it's summer and the kids are home everyday...so we'll see how it goes! Speaking of summer, that means it's bathing suit time *groan* so I figured it was the perfect time to try out this...
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I imagine many of you have seen this pin floating around Pinterest at some point. I've looked and looked and couldn't find the original source, but it is supposedly a recipe recommended by Jillian Michaels to BEAT THE BLOAT. Isn't bloat such a gross word? It conjures up all sorts of not-fun images. I found another version of the drink on eHow with the same ingredients, just different quantities, and that's the one I'm using. The 'detox drink' calls for Dandelion Root tea, cranberry juice, lemon juice, and of course, water.

I was given the opportunity to try Alvita brand Dandelion Root tea, and I immediately made this 'detox' drink. I was a little worried since I had read that dandelion root tea was very bitter, and could cause "GI discomfort" - I didn't find either to be the case, but I did add a few drops of NuNaturals Orange Stevia to sweeten it up a bit. I am really, really bad about not drinking enough fluid throughout the day, so I did not manage to drink all 60 oz. in one day. I did however drink much more than my norm, which was good. Did I lose 5 lbs in 7 days? No. Did I lose some water weight/bloat? Yes! I was definitely better hydrated, which made me feel better. So, I'm trying to keep it going by keeping a pitcher of 'detox' tea or flavored water in the fridge (I'm currently drinking on a pitcher of "Flat Tummy Water" which I will share later!)

Jillian Michaels' Detox Drink 

60 ounces of distilled/bottled/filtered water
2 bags of Dandelion Root Tea
4 tablespoons lemon juice (fresh squeezed lemon tasted better IMO but I've used bottled too)
2 Tablespoons all natural cranberry juice (100% cranberry juice, no sugar added)

Place tea bags in a pitcher of water and let steep overnight. In the morning, remove tea bags and add remaining ingredients. Stir and drink! As noted, I added some stevia b/c I like my tea sweet...I don't know if that makes a difference and was just my preference. 

*You can also steep the tea bags in hot water, then it doesn't need to sit overnight.

(inspired by Pinterest, recipe from eHow)

As with anything, I suggest reading up on it yourself before starting any 'fad' drinks/diets/exercises. Dandelion Root Tea is an herbal supplement and traditionally used to support liver function, but as with all herbal supplements that I am aware of, they have not been evaluated by the FDA. The Alvita brand I used is certified organic.

I was sent a package of dandelion root tea for sampling/review purposes. No compensation was received.