How to Add Flavor to a Clear Liquid Diet

Clear liquids include water and plain club or sparkling soda. People try clear liquid diets for many reasons. Some follow these diets as a way to shed pounds (or water weight) quickly. Wrestlers may use a clear liquid diet to "make weight" for their meets. Whatever the reason, following a clear liquid is an undesirable and uncomfortable way to lose weight. Dieters will most likely feel sluggish and experience a constant feeling of hunger.

Instructions

1

Squeeze lemon or lime slices into your water for a natural way to enhance its taste. Cut several lemons and limes into slices and chill them in your refrigerator until they are ready for use. (Cover them with saran wrap or place them in an airtight container to avoid spoilage.) This way they will be available to you at your convenience whenever you need to add a little zest to your water. Lemon is an especially beneficial addition to a clear liquid diet as it acts as a natural diuretic, which helps to alleviate excess water weight. Lemons may even help to lessen the headaches or nausea you may experience while on a liquid diet.

2

Add one or two ounces of 100 percent cranberry, grape, pomegranate, blueberry or acai berry juice to your water or club soda to add flavor. Berries contain powerful levels of antioxidants, which may help prevent or slow damage to the human body. They boost the body's immune system, lower the risk of cancer and infections and help eliminate chemicals in the body caused by air pollution. These juices have a higher level of antioxidents than some other juices (apple or pineapple juices, for example) and contain less sugar. Look for labels that read 100 percent organic, to ensure they were harvested naturally and contain no additives.

3

Add a splash of orange juice to some club soda for a great tasting beverage. Orange juice is packed with vitamin C, an essential nutrient for the body, and the carbonation in the club soda will help fill you up. When purchasing orange juice, select one that contains 100 percent juice, so that you do not consume unwanted sugar.

4

Sweeten your water with a powdered sweetener such as Crystal Light, which you can find at most grocery stores. These powders come in many flavors, ranging from fruit punch to iced tea, and usually are five calories or less per serving. Add the amount of powder to your water to get your desired flavor. Be aware that the aspartame contained in many crystal light products can cause bloating or gas.