Fresh Basil Limeade

Oh my!  It’s the dog days of summer! We’ve been the the lake a bunch of times, we have a season pass to the outdoor swimming pool/water park and we’ve had some serious neighborhood bbqs.  For all of those events, this next recipe is one of my FAVORITES!! Seriously.  

It works as a instant rehydrator, restores electrolytes, cools ya down, and helps detox.  In addition to all these reasons, I lost 10 pounds on it last summer getting the last of the baby weight off…for whatever reason, it works! Keep in mind I do not use sugar in my drinks, I use stevia, a natural form of sweetener that comes from a plant.  It’s available in most health food stores.  For this reason, this drink has very few calories in it and it great at helping you feel satisfied when you might turn to sugary treats instead!

Here’s what you need:

• 8 cups water
• 1 1/2 cups lemon juice
• A sprig of free basil
• Stevia to taste ( liquid or powdered)
• Lime essential oil (optional)

I like to use fresh limes.  I got over a pound of limes at my local Hispanic grocery store for only $1.50!  They have great deals often on lemons too.

Cut and squeeze limes.

Add cold water, lime juice, basil and stevia to blender.  I blend mine for at least a minute, if you don’t, all the basil leaves get all “leafy” in your glass and it’s not so fun to drink.

Pour and enjoy!

Notes: Another favorite of mine is Cilantro Lemonade, just substitute cilantro and lemons. Add a few drops of essential is a great way to get an extra spike of flavor.  Make sure you are using a brand that can be digested internally. Also, this is a fantastic way to start your morning, as weird as it sounds.  Citrus juice is a great way to get a balance body and help with removing toxins and create more energy all day!