People often think about foods that can help them slim down and weight loss drinks are also very important in a weight loss diet. Drinks tend to have fewer calories than solid food, but can also contain unique compounds and active ingredients that stimulate the metabolism, improve digestion, suppress hunger and balance hormones, among other functions in the body. All of these outcomes support your weight loss goals, without forcing you to change much of your daily routine.
Some of the most effective beverages for weight loss are quite common and widely available at major stores, while others can be made at home, or found in specialty health food stores. Increasing your liquid intake is almost always a good thing, provided you are consuming the right drinks containing the right mixture of nutrients for your weight loss goals. [1]
Best Drinks for Weight Loss
Some of the best drinks for weight loss include green tea, lemon water, kefir and grapefruit juice, among others.
Make sure your shakes are also delicious. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Lemon Water
Water is one of the best weight loss drinks, as it can help to suppress hunger and keep you feeling full. However, adding lemon to the water can also help to stimulate the metabolism and promote urination. As a mild diuretic, this drink can have a rapid and positive effect on your weight, as well as your toxicity levels. [2]
Green Tea
Perhaps the most famous weight loss drink, the flavonoids and other antioxidants in green tea have been directly linked to an increase in metabolic speed. In addition to this, they also help in reducing fat deposition and regulating insulin and blood sugar levels in the body. Some studies have found that drinking 1-2 cups of green tea can help you burn an extra 100 calories every day. [3]
Grapefruit Juice
Research has shown that consuming a small glass of grapefruit juice before every meal can help you consume 20-25% fewer calories in an average sitting. It also improves the insulin resistance in the body. This can protect against diabetes risk and keeps the metabolism working at a high rate. [4]
Kefir
This fermented milk drink is becoming more and more popular, as it has been connected to a faster metabolism and more fat-burning. This may be due to the concentration of protein in kefir, which can help increase muscle growth, thus requiring more calories to be burnt to support muscle development and maintenance. [5]
Effective Drinks for Weight Loss
For people seeking fast-acting drinks that aid weight loss efforts, try chamomile tea, fat-free milk, black coffee and chocolate milk.
Fat-free Milk
While 2% or whole milk may taste better to some people, fat-free and skim milk is far better for your weight loss goals. This common drink provides high levels of calcium, which can help to speed up the breakdown of fat. It also suppresses the appetite, thus preventing overeating and snacking. Weight loss drinks like fat-free milk will lower your level of overall fat intake as well, as opposed to full-fat or 2% milk. [6]
Black Coffee
Although an excess of coffee can cause high levels of acidity in the gut and may cause a slight dependency on caffeine, the boost that it provides to the metabolism is undeniable. Not only does it increase your passive fat-burning rates, but also works as an appetite suppressant if you are trying to cut back on your calorie intake. [7]
Chamomile Tea
Some of the active ingredients in chamomile tea can stimulate the release of gastric juices, which can speed digestion and improve nutrient uptake. However, by speeding up the digestive process, it can also boost metabolic speed. It is best to drink a cup of chamomile tea before each meal, or right before you go to sleep, allowing your body to burn calories more effectively as you sleep. [8]
Chocolate Milk
While there are some sugars and calories in chocolate milk, there is also a high concentration of iron, vitamin A, and calcium. As long as you drink this sweet treat in moderation, it can help you recover faster from workouts and build muscles quicker, which can drive the metabolism and result in weight loss. [9]
Detox Water Recipes
Detox water has become very popular in recent years, and can usually be prepared at home. Some of the most popular detox water recipes include cucumber lemon water, ginger mint water, and mango pineapple water, among many others.
Cucumber Lemon Water
To make this detox water, simply take 1/2 a cucumber (sliced), one lemon, and a few fresh mint leaves and mix them in a mason jar of cold water. Allow this mixture to steep for at least 12 hours before consuming it. This particular blend is known for its ability to cleanse the skin, boost the immune system, and help flush out the kidney stones to detoxify the system.
Mango Pineapple Water
To begin with, slice up a pineapple and a mango, then add about 1/4 cup of each to a jar of water. You can garnish this with a few sprigs of mint, and also drink this directly, rather than waiting 12-24 hours for the fruit to steep. The combination of active ingredients can help reduce inflammation, which can increase stress and fat deposition, while also improving the digestive processes.
Ginger Mint Water
Add two lemon wedges, two lime wedges, 15 mint leaves, 1/2 teaspoon of sliced ginger and 1 sliced cucumber to a jaw of water. Allow this to sit for 1-2 hours before drinking the water. It can help relieve indigestion and speed the metabolism, which should help with your weight loss goals.
Homemade Weight Loss Drinks
Many people enjoy preparing their own weight loss drinks at home, including fruit and vegetable smoothies, honey and hot water, and carom seed water.
Fruit Smoothies
You can start every morning with a nutrient-packed fruit smoothie if you have access to a blender or juicer. A blender is better, as it will include all of the dietary fiber, which can help promote faster digestion, reduce blood sugar level and lower cholesterol. [10]
Honey & Hot Water
One of the simplest weight loss drinks, simply heat up a glass of water to just below boiling point and then stir in 1-2 teaspoons of honey. This drink should be consumed first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach. It will kickstart your metabolism into a high gear, helping to speed up the burning of calories and boosting the efficacy of your exercise. [11]
Carom Seed Water
Carom seeds contain thymol as an active ingredient, a powerful compound that can help to increase the rate of metabolism within the body and optimize digestion. Simply soak these seeds in water overnight, then strain the seeds out and drink the water in the morning. You can also add honey to improve the flavor, if desired. [12]
Top Fat-burning Drinks
If you want to burn fat fast, the most effective drinks include protein shakes, vegetable juices, ice water and oolong tea.
Ice Water
One of the best weight loss drinks is ice water, as the body needs to compensate for the sudden change in temperature of the body. A single glass of ice-cold water can actually result in the body burning more than 15 calories. Now, while that might not sound like many calories, ice water will also help you feel full and will cut down on overeating, particularly if you have a glass of ice water with every meal. [13]
Oolong Tea
If you want to increase fat oxidation and reduce fat storage in the body, oolong tea may be your best bet. The epigallocatechins, in combination with the caffeine in this tea variety, can help the body more efficiently handle your fat intake and will give you a major boost of energy. This can help to improve fat-burning while exercising, as well as passive calorie-burning while you are performing other activities throughout the day. [14]
Protein Shakes
Many people turn to protein shakes when they want to bulk up their muscles, but it is also an excellent way to lose weight. It takes more energy for the body to maintain muscle cells than fat cells, so by shifting the balance to more muscles and less fat, your body will actually burn more calories to accommodate the higher metabolic demands. [15]
Vegetable Juices
There is a high concentration of fiber, minerals and other antioxidants in vegetables, particularly leafy green vegetables that are often included in vegetable juices. You can make your own at home in a blender or juicer, or you can buy vegetable juices, such as V8. This can balance your healthy diet and lower your caloric intake, while still keeping you full and preventing overeating or excessive snacking between meals.
