There is no single morning drink proven to make diabetes, hypertension, swollen feet, or poor circulation disappear. Claims that a drink can “say goodbye” to all four conditions are misleading. Diabetes and hypertension often require ongoing treatment, and new or persistent swelling of the feet can sometimes indicate a heart, kidney, liver, vein, or medication problem.
If you want a healthy morning drink that fits into a diabetes- and blood-pressure-friendly diet, you can make this:
Lemon–ginger chia water
Ingredients
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12–16 oz (350–475 mL) water
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Juice of ½ fresh lemon
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½–1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
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1 tablespoon chia seeds
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Optional: a few fresh mint leaves
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No sugar, honey, syrup, or salt
Preparation
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Add the chia seeds to the water.
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Let them soak for 10–15 minutes, stirring once or twice.
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Add the lemon juice and grated ginger.
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Add mint if desired.
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Stir well and drink with breakfast rather than using it as a replacement for prescribed treatment.
Why this is a reasonable choice
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It contains no added sugar, which is preferable to sweetened drinks for people managing blood glucose. The American Diabetes Association notes that sugary beverages can significantly raise blood glucose.
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Avoiding added salt is useful when managing blood pressure. The American Heart Association recommends no more than 2,300 mg sodium/day, with an ideal goal of 1,500 mg/day for most adults with hypertension.
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Chia provides fiber, and ginger/lemon provide flavor without requiring sugar. However, this drink itself has not been shown to cure diabetes, hypertension, edema, or poor circulation.
More important than the drink
For blood pressure, an overall DASH-style eating pattern, lower sodium intake, regular physical activity, appropriate weight management, and prescribed medication when indicated have substantially more evidence than a “detox” drink.
Don’t use this drink to replace diabetes or blood-pressure medication. Also, if your feet are newly or persistently swollen—especially if one leg is much more swollen than the other, or you have chest pain or shortness of breath—seek medical attention rather than trying to treat it with a drink.