Drink you water!
We all know how important it is. Being well hydrated is one of the simplest and most powerful way to stay healthy and energetic. Being dehydrated is connected to so many health issues and can cause fatigue, overeating patters and constipation, just to name a few.
One of my best practices is to start my day by drinking 32 oz of water. If that’s sounds like a lot, start by drinking 2 glasses of water and work your way up to it gradually. It will do WONDERS to how you feel. Water is the best cleansing tool and will help flush out toxins from your body. It will help you feel light and energetic. It will help you to eliminate more easily and more frequently. Your body will thank you for keeping it well hydrated.
During the summer it is especially important to stay hydrated and many women like flavored drinks like juices, sodas, iced teas and iced coffees. Many of them contain added sugars and caffeine, which actually dehydrate and rob us of nutrients and energy. But worry not! I have a few suggestions for you that will help you get a kick of flavor while drinking a cool, refreshing and totally good for you summer drink.
Infused Water
Infused water is water that is enhanced by adding fruits, vegetables and herbs, to give it an extra flavor without added sugar. I like to make a large glass pitcher of infused water and fill it up during the day for continual hydration. If you keep it in the fridge you can use it for a couple of days.
To make infused water add the following to a large pitcher:
Slices of citrus like lemon, lime or orange
Slices of cucumbers
Slices of fruit like strawberries or peaches, or whole berries like blueberries, blackberries, raspberries or cherries
Fresh herbs like mint, rosemarie or sage
Some of my favorite combinations are:
Lemon, mint and sage
Lemon, mint and cucumbers
Strawberries, orange and rosemarie
Try different combinations and see which one you like.
Iced Herbal Teas
Your favorite herbal teas can be brews and iced for a refreshing summer iced tea.
Mint, peppermint, chamomile, rose hips, hibiscus, nettle, dandelion and ginger are all delicious choices.
To make, put a few teabags in one cup, add boiling water and let it brew for 5-10 minutes. Add to a pitcher, fill with water and ice and enjoy. If you like your tea sweet, add a little stevia.
Fresh Juices
Making fresh juices gives you lots of hydration with an added bonus – a huge boost of nutrients! Fresh vegetable and fruit juice is filled with lots of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. For best results, drink immediately.
I love combining green apples with vegetables like celery, carrots, beets, kale, dandelion, cucumbers and lettuce to make a delicious juice that is refreshing, delicious and not too sweet.
Surprise ingredient! One of my favorite juice ingredient during the summer is watermelon rind. It has a mild watermelon taste and it is extremely hydrating.
I recommend to use organic produce when juicing.
Smoothies
I have to admit, I’m a green smoothie addict! It is a good addiction to have. When making smoothies, it is important to have a good blender (I love the Vitamix), so it is powerful enough to break the cell walls of the produce and make all those good nutrients available for your body to absorb. You can make a smoothie by putting any combination of fruits and vegetables you like in a blender, add liquids (I usually add water), add ice (unless you’re using frozen fruits) and mix. You can enhance the health benefits of smoothies by adding superfoods, my favorite are spirulina and flax seeds.
Here are some great combinations:
Arugula, mint and mango
Kale, mixed berries and ginger
Spinach, pineapple and green apple
Lettuce, parsley and cantaloupe
Don’t be afraid to experiment and have fun!
Please tell me in the comments below what is your favorite summer drink.
And if you are having a hard time without sugary drinks, check out my Freedom From Sugar Addiction workshop, it will help you get off the sugar roller-coaster and reclaim your life.
Love these recipes I always drink lemon water- now will try the other combinations of infused waters. thanks xxx
These are great suggestions Rachel as I’m always looking to change up my water so that I drink more of it. Love the teas as well! xo
I’m thirsty from reading this! I love, love, love your recipes and suggestions. You have a wealth of knowledge and a heart of gold.
Thank you for your recommendations miss Rachel. I love my water and do have lemon water daily…also infused with cucumber and mint on occasion. Great ideas here as always.
I love these nurturing ideas and feel refreshed just reading about them! Thank you Rachel!
Love these! We drink lots of juices, but I’m going to try some of the infused waters now too – Lemon, Mint, and Cucumber is top of my list.
I’ve become really hooked on cucumber and lemon water this summer. I usually only like my mint with chocolate (hold over from childhood) but would love to try spearmint in with it since I use that in my ice tea. It all sounds yummy!