Don't Medicate! HYDRATE

You probably already know that 70% of the human body is made up of water, and it's absolutely essential to human life.  Water is a liquid shuttle bus that transports elements like nutrients, proteins, hormones and other chemicals to where they are needed the most.  The problem is most everyone is dehydrated.  How much water do we need?  A good rule of thumb is half of your body weight in ounces (140lbs= 70 ounces of water - this should the bare minimum).  Not many of us revel over the neutral flavor of plain water.  There are many ways to not only enhance the flavor but also increase the nutrient value of plain H2O.  In our household we mostly drink naturally infused water or Zinger tea (both pictured above).  Celestial Seasonings offers many different flavors of hibiscus tea, which are very high in antioxidants according to studies.  A glass of cold filtered water with a Zinger tea bag and a half pack of stevia, (if you prefer sweetened) will definitely do your body good. It is a much better alternative to sweetened flavored water drinks like Dasani, Nestle or Sparkling Ice brands which are sweetened with sucralose .  Sucralose, aspartame and saccharin is very disruptive to our gut microbiome. To learn more about how important a strong microbiome is please check out my series on Gut Health.   

When infusing your water, there is only two requirement: a glass container of filtered water and creativity!  The combination of fruits, veggies, herbs and spices are endless.  It can be tailored to your own tastes and health benefits you hope to achieve.   

*Berries and fruit- loaded with antioxidants, key vitamins and minerals they help in:

*Balancing free radicals

*Decrease inflammation

*Prevents cancer

*Prevents DNA damage

*Helps to regulate insulin levels

*Citrus- lemons ,limes, oranges and grapefruits all help with:

 *Iron absorption

*Shortens durations of colds

*Helps with detoxing the body

*Inhibits bacteria strain growth

*Ginger and Herbs-

*Helps in digestion

*Reduces inflammation

*Decreases fatigue

*Veggies- Aids in replenishing electrolytes and transferring minerals and nutrients into the water. 

  Use those that have a high water content like:

*Cucumbers

*Cantaloupe

*Celery

*Pomegranate

*Watermelon

Benefits of Drinking Water

*Increases energy & relieves fatigue

*Promotes weight loss

*Flushes out toxins

*Improves skin complexion

*Maintains regularity 

*Boosts immunity

*Natural headache remedy

*Prevents cramps and sprains

*Mood booster

*Saves you money! STOP BUYING CRAP DRINKS

Here are a few blend ideas:

*Lemon, Lime and Orange

*Raspberry and Lime

*Strawberry and Basil

*Lemon, Cucumber and Mint

*Blackberry and Ginger

*Peach, Lemon and Thyme

You will feel the difference once you're properly hydrated.

Have a great week. 

Be kind.

Judd