Hydration. Everyone is talking about it but few are doing it. We all know that we need to drink more water but we don’t. Hydration can help with weight loss, can flush toxins from the body, and can give you more energy. So here are a few ideas to help put more liquids into your body on a daily basis.
- 2 glasses – Start every morning by drinking two glasses of water first thing after waking up. You have just slept for 8 hours (hopefully) and your body needs fluids. By drinking two full glasses of water every morning you are beginning your day by flushing out the old garbage that has been building up over night. I like to add 1 tsp of Bragg’s raw apple cider vinegar to each glass which has it’s own list of benefits. www.bragg.com If you are not used to drinking water you might have to work up to this by starting with a smaller amount and adding to it each day. Drinking liquids is like anything new you add into your life at first you have to work at it and build that muscle. Then eventually it will become automatic. If you don’t like water then drink un-sweet tea. Make yourself a pot of Bamboo Leaf Tea the night before and it will be ready for you in the morning. Remember to use a great water because you want a great body.
- chia seeds – Chia is the Mayan word for strength and is a great little superfood that really aids in hydration. There are many ways to use this seed so I’ll give you two of my favorites. One that my kids love is to add a spoonful to their morning juice or tea. I don’t like to give them sweet drinks so it’s a treat for them and they think the crunchy part is fun. You can also mix a spoonful into applesauce or yogurt or another medium of your choice. Chia seeds hold more than 10 times their weight in liquids so they act as a reservoir for hydration. The second way is to take it with you. Put 1 tsp of chia seed into your water bottle, add tea or water and hit the road. You can also add some dried fruit such as goji berries or cherries for some added flavor and nutrition. This will super boost your drink and is great for outside summer fun.
- tea – Working at markets and festivals gives me the opportunity to talk to a lot of thirsty people. I think that a lot of people would drink more if they had great options in front of them. So here is an idea. Go to Ross or Ikea and buy some glass bottles. I like the flip top ones. Then before bed take out a soup pot and bring water to a boil and turn it off. Add your favorite bamboo tea and let the tea brew overnight unless you are using green tea or relax tea only let those teas steep for 4 minutes. In the morning strain your tea and put it into the glass bottles. Now when you open your fridge there will be some great options for you to choose. Tea is an excellent way to add extra nutrients to your diet. So choose tea instead of that synthetic supplement and your body will benefit from the nutritional boost. Drinking tea is like eating whole foods. Teas are made from whole plants that have everything in them you need to absorb their nutrients. So get a variety of teas and have choices, healthy choices in your fridge and you will find it much easier to stay hydrated. It is a great feeling to open the refrigerator on a hot day and find a cold bottle of tea waiting for you. So stock up and get brewing.
