Looking for a pick-me-up that isn’t coffee? Try this Keto Detox Water! It’s a tasty combination of sweet, sour, and spicy and is the perfect replacement for breakfast or any time between meals when you want to put a little pep in your step. I’ve included two recipes so you can pick the one that best fits your macros.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I’ll make a small commission if you purchase through one of my links (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for your support! Additionally, Lakanto provided me with a product to sample, but all opinions are my own.
Have you ever heard of the “Master Cleanse”? It’s this 10-day detox where you consume nothing but a special drink (more on that in a moment), salt water, and an herbal, um, “cleanse” (aka laxative). I did it twice in my early 20s and it was an interesting experience, to say the least. I did lose weight and felt kind of awesome for going 10 days without food, but it was pretty torturous. I wouldn’t recommend it!
So, more about that special drink… it consisted of lemon juice, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and water. You were supposed to drink as many of these as you wanted, and I probably had 6 to 12 a day. You’d think that after 10 days of consuming only this drink x 2 rounds of the Master Cleanse, I’d absolutely hate the thought of that drink.
But you know what? I don’t… at all! In fact, I’ve craved it over the years. It struck me recently that I should make a keto version, so this Keto Detox Water was born! I actually made two versions so you can choose which one best fits your macros (they both taste great).
Don’t be confused by the name — this is not meant to be used for an extended detox like the Master Cleanse. It’s meant to supplement your regular keto meals and is ideally used in the morning as a replacement for breakfast. I named it a “detox water” because of the benefits of lemon juice and cayenne pepper, which I’ll tell you about later in the post.
(Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor, so if you have any medical condition that would make it dangerous to only consume a liquid in the morning, please don’t consume this drink that way.)
[convertkit]Ingredients Needed to Make Keto Detox Water
You will need lemons, cayenne pepper, and chilled water, plus:
Lakanto Maple-Flavored Syrup
Stock up on a bottle (or five) of this… it is heavenly! Best of all, two tablespoons contain only 1g net carbs after you subtract the fiber and sugar alcohols.
If you want to make Keto Detox Water version #2, you will also need:
Lakanto Lemon Liquid Sweetener
These flavored drops contain zero calories and zero net carbs!
How to Make Keto Detox Water
This detox water couldn’t be easier! You just juice a lemon (I highly recommend freshly juiced lemon juice, not a concentrate) and combine all ingredients in a glass.
Keto Detox Water #1 (3g net carbs/glass)
This version is most like the original and contains:
- Lemon juice
- Lakanto maple-flavored syrup
- Cayenne pepper
- Chilled water
Keto Detox Water #2 (2g net carbs/glass)
This version is lower in carbs and a bit sweeter. It contains:
- Lemon juice (but less than version #1)
- Lakanto maple-flavored syrup
- Lakanto lemon liquid sweetener
- Cayenne pepper
- Chilled water
(See the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredient amounts for each drink.)
Why Drink this Keto Detox Water?
I know what some of you may be thinking. “THREE (or two, for version #2) GRAMS OF NET CARBS… in a DRINK?! Why would I do that?”
Here’s why: because the keto lifestyle isn’t always about stuffing as much food as you can into your macros every day. Yes, the keto lifestyle sets certain parameters, but keto is also about becoming a healthier, better version of yourself… and sometimes that means using up a few carb grams to consume something that’s really good for you.
Let’s go over a few of the benefits of lemon juice and cayenne pepper to show you what I mean:
Benefits of Lemon Juice
Drinking lemon juice has many documented benefits, including:
- Aids detoxification
- Helps with digestion
- Enhances immune system (thanks to a healthy dose of Vitamin C)
- Boosts energy levels
- Helps with kidney health
Benefits of Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper has many documented benefits as well! These benefits include:
- Boosts circulation
- Serves as a decongestant
- Helps with aching joints and muscles
- Suppresses appetite
- Helps with digestion
See? Those carbs are worth it! 🙂 (Plus, don’t forget, Keto Detox Water is ideal on an empty stomach in the morning instead of breakfast.)
Bonus: A Brilliant Method for Easy Water with Lemon Slices
I don’t know about you, but I love a glass of water with a slice of lemon because it helps perk up the flavor of water. So, I wanted to share with you my favorite method for preparing water with lemon slices.
Step #1: Wash your lemons! They’re going to be floating in your water, so you want them nice and clean.
Step #2: On a cutting board, slice them with a sharp knife.
Step #3: Place your lemon slices in a freezer-safe bag and pop them in the freezer for at least an hour.
Step #4: Pull out a slice or two as desired for your water. Brilliant, right?! No need to worry about your lemons going bad or having more slices than you need. Plus, the frozen lemon slice(s) will chill your water!
Interested in Intermittent Fasting?
If you’re interested in taking your detox to the next level, learn about what to drink while intermittent fasting.
You may also be interested in my 7-day keto smoothie cleanse!
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I hope you love this Keto Detox Water recipe! If you liked this post, I would so appreciate you giving it a share by using the social sharing icons. THANK YOU!
Keto Detox Water
Ingredients
Version #1 (3g net carbs/serving)
- 2 tbsp lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 2 tbsp Lakanto maple-flavored syrup
- 1/10 tsp cayenne pepper (more to taste)
- 10 oz chilled water
Version #2 (2g net carbs/serving)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 2 tbsp Lakanto maple-flavored syrup
- 3 drops Lakanto lemon liquid sweetener
- 1/10 tsp cayenne pepper (more to taste)
- 10 oz chilled water
Instructions
- Add ingredients to a glass and stir well.
Notes
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutrition facts are included as a courtesy only. They are accurate to the best of our knowledge based on the ingredients and brands used, but their accuracy is not guaranteed. If applicable, sugar alcohols have already been removed from the total carb count.
On this site, you will find keto, low carb, gluten-free, and healthy recipes that don’t sacrifice flavor. 🍰 Thanks for visiting!
Great! Thanks for this healthy recipe! Excited to try both! 😍
You’re welcome! Enjoy! 🙂
Tried this for the first time today. The smallest measuring spoon I have is a 1/8. I put in maybe half of that of the cayenne pepper. Too much! I bought 2 large lemons and measured out a tablespoons of the juice into an ice tray. My plan is to place a 10oz. glass of water in fridge each evening and drop in 1frozen lemon cube. So the next morning I add remaining ingredients and it’s ready to drink. My hope is that eventually I will tell a difference in arthiritis pain and maybe get an energy boost.
Hi Gaye! I’m so happy to hear you gave it a try. It definitely has a “kick” to it, so I can understand wanting to cut down on the amount of cayenne. I’ve had so many that I think I’m used to it. 🙂 Your plan sounds great, and I hope you notice improvements with your pain levels and energy!
Made version 2 for the first time today. My main reason for trying this is arthritis pain relief. Do you think I might tell a difference with only 1glass a day? I’m sure it will take some time.
Hi Gaye, I’m not totally sure, but please report back and let me know!
I have joint issues as well and find that curcumin and collagen are very helpful. Definitely look into those if you don’t already take them.
I hate maple. Can one use agave or none at all?
Hi Merilyn! If you use agave, it won’t be keto anymore since agave is high in carbs and sugar. You can instead use a few drops of liquid stevia — that will make it a spicy lemonade. Enjoy!
You can check amazon for different forms of monk fruit sweetners.my personal opionion is monk fruit has the best/closest taste to sugar. I just bought the drops and will be tring those instead of the maple.
Can you drink a smoothie or anything that is not a solid?
Hi Crystal, On keto? Definitely! I have a lot of keto coffee drinks and keto smoothies on my site, like this one: https://forgetsugarfriday.com/keto-coffee-smoothie/
Thanks for sharing this! We always make lemon water mixed with sliced cucumber and honey at home. And I will definitely give these Keto detox water recipes a try.
Thanks so much for sharing this keto detox water recipes! My favorite detox water is lemon and honey water. This is very great thirst quencher especially after a workout in the gym!
Hi Khayrie, You’re welcome! Thanks for stopping by!
Hahahaha. I was here thinking to myself. I miss the lemon cleanse drink. Then I found this! Thanks for sharing. I did not know Lakana made a syrup. Yeah now to find it locally because I want it now Daddy🤣🤣🤣
Isn’t it funny how that flavor really sticks with you?! 🙂 Enjoy!
you don’t like the master cleanse, yet your 1st recipe is exactly the same as the master cleanse except for your choice of maple syrup. i’ve done many master cleanses over the years and it gets easier over time. my longest was 21 days after my stroke when i was 39. best thing ever and i felt incredible after the cleanse. ”
Make sure you are using the correct MAPLE SYRUP
“Grade B maple syrup is one of the most balanced of all sugars containing a balance of positive and negative ions. Grade B does not enter the bloodstream as rapidly as honey or sugar which is better for people who react adversely to sugars, (becoming restless sleepless, and energetic after consuming sugar), or may be borderline or pre-diabetic. Diabetics should substitute blackstrap molasses for maple syrup using up to 1/4 tsp. Don’t use Grade A maple syrup or maple-flavored syrup. They are over-refined, which means that they are mostly refined sugars and lack essential minerals.)”
Hi Owen, You are correct — as I stated in the post, this detox drink is meant to be very similar to the Master Cleanse drink. I actually loved the drink itself, which is why I said that I don’t hate the drink and actually crave it. However, the vast majority of my readers are on the keto diet, which means they don’t consume maple syrup due to the carb content (which led to the keto version).
The reason I said it was torturous and wouldn’t recommend it is because, for most people, it is extremely difficult to go 10 days drinking only a maple syrup (I did use Grade B as you recommended) + lemon juice + cayenne pepper drink. Eating is so programmed into us that it’s tough mentally to go that many days without solid food. I did say that it was an interesting experience, I lost weight, and “felt pretty awesome for going that many days without food.”
If the Master Cleanse works for you, then it’s definitely the right thing to do! My blog reflects my opinions and experiences, but I’m all for people taking their health into their own hands. At the end of the day, no one is going to care about our health like we do.
Can you still have keto meals or is this replacing those meals the whole 10 days?
Hi Liz! This drink is based on the Master Cleanse drink, but you should not use it for a full Master Cleanse (because it doesn’t contain enough calories). You can experiment with replacing breakfast with this drink or as a snack between meals.
Just add a whole tsp of cayenne pepper, it’ll be fine.. 🙂
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You Jessica!! Yes I LOVED the Master Lemon Cleanse!! Thankfully when I searched to see if anyone had made a Keto one, I found yours!!! So happy!! And yes I crave that drink too!! Blessings!!
Hi Patty, You are so welcome!! I’m thrilled that my recipe found its way to you! Enjoy! 🙂
Hi! Really happy to find this!
Just finished a 4 day water fast and that wasnt fun. 🙂
Ive wanted to do this detox for a while so happy to find this maple syrup on iherb here in Japan.
So my big question is it still a ten day cleanse and how many should I drink a day?
AND 1 smaller worry-some question… I commute by train and walking and I’m a teacher with 60 minutes classes that I cant “walk out of” …. after two days, weekend, will I be able to manage my normal monday to friday?
Any and all help, suggestions and feedback would be much appreciate it!