Holistic Hydration: Why Drinking Water is Essential to Your Health
And how it doesn’t have to bore you to insanity
When I tell people what I do, a string of common questions I get asked is, "I want to get better about my health, I want to start a diet, what's the first thing I should do? What should I eat?". My answer is (and will always be) always drink more water!
Hydration for Your Cells
Water is essential to our health on so many levels. Our bodies are made of 70% precious H2O. Our brains, blood, and every major organ rely on it. Proper hydration does wonders for your body from the inside out.
There are lots of products on the market that claim to detox you from the inside out. The truth is that our bodies are specially designed to push toxins out on their own. Consuming water gives you the fluid, vitamins, and minerals you need to ensure your organs are operating optimally. For example, our kidneys. They are detoxifiers that process and filter around 50 gallons of blood daily. These toxins are then released in the form of urine to the bladder. Dehydrated kidneys spend time compensating to draw liquid from sources instead of detoxing. Keeping the water bottle near keeps them functioning properly. This is a wonderful way to get started before you start counting calories or cutting food groups.
Sip and Sustain
Proper hydration will change your life if you unknowingly walk around like a human raisin. The benefits of drinking water includes:
Increased mental focus
Reducing the inflammatory response, which is connected to acne and other skin issues.
Clearer skin that looks less dry and wrinkly
Natural skin "plumper"
allows you to digest foods better by regulating stomach acids and intestinal fluid
Conditions muscles improve blood flow and lessen cramps
Reduces the frequency and intensity of headaches
Some Inspiration for Getting Started
For many individuals (including myself), Its hard to stay hydrated simply because of taste. Infused water is a great solution to water. They can consist of whatever fruit, vegetable, or herb you desire. Put whatever you want in and let it sit for an hour, up to overnight. The longer it stays, the stronger the taste. After straining (or not, because I like to eat my fruit), you are left with a flavorful, hydrating, chemical, and calorie-free drink. Infused waters are also known as detox water, which is all the rage on the interwebs. I go into why I don't call them "detox" in my Holistic Hydration ebook. Below, I’m sharing my four tried and true infused water recipes that are delicious and satisfying!
My Favorite Infused Water Recipes
Try these combinations with regular water or make them a fancy mocktail with sparkling water.
Pro tip: Remove the citrus after a few hours of infusing so your water doesn’t take on any bitterness.
CRANBERRY BREEZE
1 liter purified water
1 c dried cranberries
Two limes, sliced
CUCUMBER REFRESH
1liter purified water
One cucumber, sliced
Two lemons sliced
STRAWBERRY SUNRISE
1 liter purified water
One mango, sliced
2 cups strawberries, sliced
APPLE BERRY
1 liter purified water
Two apples, sliced
Three cinnamon sticks
1/2 c raspberries
More To Love
If you liked these recipes and tips, you can check out my Holistic Hydration E-Book, which has more yummy infused water recipes, plus:
More tips, facts, and debunked myths around hydration
A Water Intake Calculator - so you know how many oz you should drink for your weight, no more chugging gallons aimlessly
A Water tracker- 1-month calendar and challenge to help you get on track and stay there
A handy shopping list- to help you create your own infused waters for the week
You can get your copy here.
I hope these recipes help you start your healthy living journey by adding more water to your diet. If you liked this post and want more info, let me know in the comments, and I’d be happy to share. Share your thoughts, questions, and recipe experiences in the comments below. And if you haven't already, subscribe to our paid newsletter for even more delicious inspiration delivered to your inbox!
Until next time,
Arica