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

Natural Allergy Relief

Anyone who has been hiking before or even working in the garden has probably encountered "stinging nettle".  You never forget the stinging pain on your leg or hands that comes with brushing up against this wonderful weed.  But the natural benefits outweigh the sting of Nettle.  The first recorded use of it was by Roman soldiers battling the harsh cold by rubbing leaves on their arms to induce inflammation just to warm their skin!  Its leaves have long stinging hairs that inject chemicals into the skin of unlucky persons or animals who cross its path.  It is its natural defense mechanism.

Some of the great benefits when consuming nettle are:

*Helps to detox the body, it is a natural diuretic, flushing out harmful chemicals and 

excess liquids. especially useful in urinary tract infections.

*Promotes healthy blood circulation and cardiovascular health, with high amounts of

iron and vitamin c its helps to alleviate anemia and fatigue.  Also with high amounts of potassium it lowers your risk of strokes and heart attacks.

*Reduces arthritis pain, the antioxidant properties minimize the swelling related with arthritis and used topically can relieve some pain also.  

*Alleviates allergic reactions, even though the physical contact of nettle causes inflammation, the ingestion of it does the opposite by dampening the body's response to allergens.  It binds with the body's histamine receptors to lessen the effects of allergy symptoms. 

One of the most effective ways to consume Nettle is drinking a tea blend of  nettle, peppermint tea  and honey.  Nettle by itself has a very strong earthy taste, the honey and peppermint smooth it out a little.  You can find a variety of different brands to purchase online or at your local health food store,  Some even sell it in bulk so you can make your blend.

The next time you have the sniffles from pollen, etc in the air, brew  a cup of Nettle tea!  During heavy allergy season drink it daily you will definitely see a difference.  

It is always better to find a natural remedy from nature than bombarding your immune system with a man-made alternative.

Have a great week.

Be kind.

Judd