Human beings are made up of approximately 80% water. To keep our bodies properly hydrated most of us know that we need to be drinking at least 6-8 glasses of water per day. This could be purified water but there are other great delicious and healthy ways of consuming our daily aqua. Here are a few ideas to add variety and extra benefits to your water.
1. Water with Lemon
Starting your day with a room temperature or warm water with half a fresh squeezed lemon is a wonderful support to your digestive system, alkalizes your body and helps your bowels flush out toxins more efficiently. Lemon in water is a natural detoxifier plus gives you a good dose of Vitamin C to boost your immune system. What a great way to start your day!
2. Herbal Tea
Drinking herbal teas increase your nutrient intake while you enjoy a caffeine free beverage. There are so many amazing herbal teas on the market with many health benefits. You can get herbal teas with properties that are antibacterial, digestive, weight loss, immune-strengthening, vitality enhancing or relaxing elements to aid your sleep. Some herbal teas have a number of antioxidant properties to diminish free radical damage in the body too! This is not to say that I am suggesting tea to substitute for a good pharmaceutical grade anti-oxidant but we can’t get too many anti-oxidents these days! Some of my favourites include lemon grass, chamomile and red zinger.
3. Kombucha
You can purchase Kombucha at most Health food and Grocery stores these days but many people are really “getting into” making there own. To see how easy it is to make your own Kombucha watch this video. So what is Kombucha and what is all the fuss about this popular new drink? Kombucha is a fermented tea beverage that is laden with probiotics. A daily glass of Kombucha each day comes with a ton of benefits! Firstly, the natural good bacteria in Kombucha helps to aid digestion, uplifts your mood and gives you great mental clarity. Most Kombuchas are delicious but I will say there are the odd companies that produce terrible tasting drink. If you , like me, happen to buy one of thes Kombuchas, don’t be put off! Just try another brand or learn to make your own.
4. Infused water with Cucumber, Strawberries or Lime
So easy to make, with delicious and healthful results. Take purified water and put it in your favourite clear pitcher. Slice cucumber, strawberries or limes (or combine all 3) into the water and leave in a fridge for at least 1 hour. When you drink this wonderfully satisfying beverage you will thoroughly enjoy all the delicate flavours plus reap extra benefits from the antioxidents. I have also tried adding raspberries to infuse my water when they are in season (yeah, summer’s coming) and they are wonderful!
5. Green Juice
IF you have a juicer, green juice is the quickest way you can have your water and enjoy the phytonutrients your bodies need. To balance the flavours and keep your sugars low in green juice, it is a good idea to combine 1 fruit with 3 or 4 vegetables. Apples and bananas are great fruit choices and personally I love kale, spinach, dark green lettuce and celery as an easy base. I have a ton of recipes for Green Smoothies if you like in my Ageless Body Cookbook.
5. Coconut Water
I recently purchased Coconut water for my Health Club’s juice bar because it such a great way to re-hydrate after a workout. Coconut water provides electrolytes, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium and potassium. You want to make sure you buy pure coconut water with no artificial additives or extra sugar (it tastes naturally sweet). IN addition, coconut water contains zinc, selenium (disappeared from many soils today in Australia, New Zealand and Canada (especially Vancouver Island), iodine (which most of us are very low on), sulfur, manganese, boron, molybdenum, ascorbic acid and B-group vitamins! Apart from a great post-workout drink, coconut water is a fabulous energy booster any time of the day.
6. Italian Lemonade-Herb Infused
I was dining at a local Italian resaurent last weekend and tasted the most delicious natural lemonade I have ever had. They used local herbs to infuse and enhance the flavor. Watch for my recipe in the next newsletter-just in time for Spring-Summer entertaining!
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