Cocktails & Mocktails for Weight Loss: Refreshing Drinks to Support Spleen Qi Deficiency and Clear Dampness

Weight gain caused by Spleen Qi deficiency (Spleen Qi Xu) often leads to the accumulation of dampness in the body, resulting in bloating, water retention, and sluggish digestion. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), strengthening the Spleen and clearing dampness is essential for supporting weight loss. These cocktails and mocktails incorporate ingredients that aid in digestion, improve metabolism, and gently clear excess fluids, while being delicious and enjoyable.

Cocktails

1. Grapefruit & Ginger Gin Fizz

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz gin

  • 1 oz fresh grapefruit juice

  • 1 oz ginger syrup (simmer fresh ginger with sugar and water)

  • 1/2 oz lemon juice

  • Soda water

  • Ice

  • Grapefruit wedge for garnish

Instructions:

  1. In a shaker, combine gin, grapefruit juice, ginger syrup, and lemon juice.

  2. Add ice and shake well for 15 seconds.

  3. Strain into a glass with ice and top with soda water.

  4. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge.

Why it helps:
Grapefruit aids digestion and supports fat metabolism, while ginger helps warm the digestive system and move dampness. Gin provides a light, crisp base, making this cocktail refreshing and supportive for weight loss.

2. Green Tea & Lemon Bourbon Smash

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz bourbon

  • 1 oz green tea concentrate (steep green tea for 5 minutes, then cool)

  • 1 oz lemon juice

  • 1/2 oz honey

  • Ice

  • Lemon wheel for garnish

Instructions:

  1. Brew strong green tea and allow it to cool.

  2. In a shaker, combine bourbon, green tea, lemon juice, and honey.

  3. Add ice and shake well.

  4. Strain into a glass with ice and garnish with a lemon wheel.

Why it helps:
Green tea boosts metabolism and helps clear dampness, while lemon aids in digestion and detoxification. The combination of bourbon and honey adds warmth, helping to tonify Spleen Qi and promote fat burning.

3. Celery & Cucumber Vodka Cooler

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz vodka

  • 1 oz fresh celery juice

  • 1 oz fresh cucumber juice

  • 1/2 oz lime juice

  • Soda water

  • Ice

  • Cucumber slice for garnish

Instructions:

  1. Juice fresh celery and cucumber, or blend and strain them.

  2. In a shaker, combine vodka, celery juice, cucumber juice, and lime juice.

  3. Add ice and shake well.

  4. Strain into a glass with ice and top with soda water. Garnish with a cucumber slice.

Why it helps:
Celery and cucumber are natural diuretics that help drain dampness and reduce water retention. This cocktail is light and refreshing, aiding in the elimination of excess fluids and supporting digestion.

4. Fennel & Lemon Gin Smash

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz gin

  • 1 oz fennel syrup (simmer fennel seeds with sugar and water)

  • 1 oz lemon juice

  • Soda water

  • Ice

  • Lemon wedge for garnish

Instructions:

  1. Prepare fennel syrup by simmering fennel seeds with sugar and water.

  2. In a shaker, combine gin, fennel syrup, and lemon juice.

  3. Add ice and shake well.

  4. Strain into a glass with ice and top with soda water. Garnish with a lemon wedge.

Why it helps:
Fennel helps stimulate digestion, reduce bloating, and clear dampness from the body. Paired with lemon, which helps detoxify and move Qi, this cocktail supports healthy metabolism and digestion.

5. Pineapple & Mint Mojito

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz rum

  • 1 oz fresh pineapple juice

  • 1 oz lime juice

  • Fresh mint leaves

  • 1 tsp honey

  • Soda water

  • Ice

Instructions:

  1. Muddle fresh mint leaves with honey in a shaker.

  2. Add pineapple juice, lime juice, and rum.

  3. Fill the shaker with ice and shake well.

  4. Strain into a glass with ice and top with soda water. Garnish with fresh mint leaves.

Why it helps:
Pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme that supports digestion and reduces bloating, while mint helps move stagnant Qi and reduce dampness. This tropical cocktail is perfect for weight loss and digestive support.

Mocktails

1. Celery & Lemon Detox Tonic

Ingredients:

  • 1 oz fresh celery juice

  • 1 oz fresh lemon juice

  • 1/2 oz honey

  • Soda water

  • Ice

Instructions:

  1. In a glass, combine fresh celery juice, lemon juice, and honey.

  2. Add ice and top with soda water. Stir gently and garnish with a lemon wedge.

Why it helps:
Celery is a natural diuretic that helps drain dampness and reduce bloating, while lemon aids in detoxification. This mocktail is hydrating and helps balance fluids, making it ideal for weight loss and digestive support.

2. Fennel & Cucumber Refresher

Ingredients:

  • 1 oz fennel syrup (simmer fennel seeds with sugar and water)

  • 1 oz fresh cucumber juice

  • 1 oz lime juice

  • Soda water

  • Ice

Instructions:

  1. In a shaker, combine fennel syrup, cucumber juice, and lime juice.

  2. Add ice and shake well.

  3. Strain into a glass with ice and top with soda water. Stir gently.

Why it helps:
Fennel and cucumber are both cooling and help reduce bloating, clear dampness, and aid digestion. This mocktail is light, refreshing, and perfect for supporting healthy metabolism and fluid balance.

3. Green Tea & Mint Cooler

Ingredients:

  • 1 oz green tea concentrate (steep green tea for 5 minutes, then cool)

  • 1 oz fresh lime juice

  • Fresh mint leaves

  • Soda water

  • Ice

Instructions:

  1. Brew strong green tea and allow it to cool.

  2. In a shaker, muddle fresh mint leaves.

  3. Add green tea concentrate, lime juice, and ice. Shake well.

  4. Strain into a glass with ice and top with soda water. Garnish with fresh mint.

Why it helps:
Green tea boosts metabolism and helps the body clear excess dampness, while mint promotes digestion and reduces bloating. This mocktail supports weight loss by stimulating Qi and improving overall digestive health.

4. Grapefruit & Basil Sparkler

Ingredients:

  • 1 oz fresh grapefruit juice

  • 1 oz fresh lime juice

  • 1 tbsp honey

  • Fresh basil leaves

  • Soda water

  • Ice

Instructions:

  1. Muddle fresh basil leaves in a shaker.

  2. Add grapefruit juice, lime juice, and honey.

  3. Shake with ice and strain into a glass.

  4. Top with soda water and garnish with fresh basil.

Why it helps:
Grapefruit supports fat metabolism, while basil helps reduce dampness and bloating. This vibrant mocktail is perfect for promoting healthy digestion and weight loss.

5. Pineapple & Ginger Tonic

Ingredients:

  • 1 oz fresh pineapple juice

  • 1 oz ginger syrup (simmer fresh ginger with sugar and water)

  • 1 oz lime juice

  • Soda water

  • Ice

Instructions:

  1. In a shaker, combine pineapple juice, ginger syrup, and lime juice.

  2. Add ice and shake well.

  3. Strain into a glass with ice and top with soda water. Stir gently.

Why it helps:
Pineapple contains enzymes that aid digestion, while ginger warms the digestive system and helps clear dampness. This mocktail is refreshing, digestion-boosting, and perfect for supporting weight loss.

Conclusion

These cocktails and mocktails are designed to support weight loss by addressing Spleen Qi deficiency and clearing dampness. With ingredients like ginger, celery, fennel, and green tea, these drinks help improve digestion, promote a healthy metabolism, and reduce water retention. Perfect for a refreshing, enjoyable way to support your weight loss journey.

DietChristine PalmaDietComment