Health Benefits of Detoxification

Below is a detailed look at the science behind detox water's health claims. A few are valid, even if they are a little exaggerated in some instances.

Helps With Weight Loss

Drinking water may help you lose weight, and this applies to detox water too. Water has been shown to temporarily raise your metabolic rate, so you burn more calories.

Studies have shown that drinking 17 oz (half a liter) of water can increase your metabolic rate by up to 30% for about an hour (1Trusted Source, 2Trusted Source).

In fact, people who drink the recommended amount of water as part of a weight loss program tend to lose more weight than those who don't (3Trusted Source, 4Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source).

One study found that overweight adults who drank 17 oz (half a liter) of water before their meals lost 40% more weight than those who didn't (7Trusted Source).

This can be partially explained by a rise in metabolism, but may also be due to the effect water has on your appetite. Drinking water has been linked to reduced hunger, so if you drink water before a meal, you may eat less (8Trusted Source, 9Trusted Source).

Improves Digestive Health

Hydration is important for digestive health and maintaining regular bowel movements. Chronic dehydration can cause constipation, which can make you feel bloated and sluggish (10Trusted Source, 11Trusted Source, 12Trusted Source, 13Trusted Source, 14Trusted Source).

Drinking plenty of water may help food pass smoothly through your gut and prevent you from becoming constipated.

Improves Mood and Energy Levels

Even mild dehydration can affect mood, concentration and energy levels.

Studies have shown that dehydration levels of around 1% can significantly decrease mood, reduce concentration span and cause headaches (15Trusted Source, 16Trusted Source, 17Trusted Source, 18Trusted Source).

One study looked at adults who consumed less than 41 oz (1.2 liters) of water per day. When they increased their water intake to 85 oz (2.5 liters) per day, they were happier, had more energy and felt calmer (19Trusted Source).

If you aren't drinking enough, increasing your water intake could improve your mood and give you more energy.

Boosts Immune Function

This is one claim about detox water that may be a little exaggerated.

It's true that eating fruits and vegetables and even fruit juices can help support your immune system (20Trusted Source, 21Trusted Source).

In particular, vitamin C has been shown to benefit your immune system when consumed on a regular basis (22Trusted Source, 23Trusted Source, 24Trusted Source, 25Trusted Source).

However, the amount of these nutrients that you would get from an infusion like detox water is likely to be minimal and highly variable.

Although it is theoretically possible, it's unlikely detox water has any meaningful effect on immune function.

Summary:Drinking detox water could help you lose weight, have better digestive health and make you happier. However, you will get all of these benefits from drinking regular water too.