Drink Up! - Tips on Consuming More Water

​Did you know that the majority of people spend everyday in a dehydrated state?  This can be due to consumption of caffeine or simply not drinking water throughout the day.  Water is beneficial and assists the body in so many ways.  It can provide energy to the body, curb an appetite, improve digestion and so much more.  I routinely hear many say that they just don't like the taste of plain water, so I want to provide simple ways to infuse your fluids.  

​To infuse your water, first begin with clean water that’s filtered to remove harmful substances.  For single use, you can use glass mason jars.  Of course, if you want more of the same type of flavored or infused water, fill a glass pitcher.  For now, we'll stick with single servings.  Simply fill your jar with water, add fresh lemon slices, seal with a lid and place in the refrigerator for ~15-30 minutes or overnight.  You can add any fruit to your water and/or cut up herbs.

Adding herbs can be medicinal.  If you are having nausea or want a little flavor, you can add peppermint leaves to your mason jar.  Make sure you tear the leaves the get more flavor and add as many as you’d like.  You can grow your own peppermint or any herbs in small patio pots or in the yard.  Peppermint has antiviral and antimicrobial properties and soothes the digestive tract. If you plant peppermint in the yard, make sure you place it in a spot that has room as peppermint spreads and can invade neighboring plants.  

Another great addition is ginger.  Ginger also aids in relieving nausea and can also assist in digestion.  Fresh ginger root is amazing.  Simply add a few shavings to your water.  A great concoction for morning digestion and something I like to do is drink ~12-16 ounces of water infused with both ginger shavings and fresh slices of lemon.  After waking up, we need some fresh water to infuse the body.  This yummy concoction rehydrates my body and fires up the digestive juices and gets me ready for the day.  Ginger is also a wonderful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. 

Lastly, I really enjoy Schisandra Berry which is often used in Chinese medicine.  It can be found in many forms and has a flavor much like goji berries.  You can use a powdered form in water or use the actual berry (~1 teaspoon in an 8-12-ounce mason jar).  The berry has five flavors – sour, sweet, salty, bitter and warmth.  Schisandra Berry has been known to assist with fatigue and fight free radicals in the body, reducing internal inflammation.  If someone is pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medications, please consult your health care provider before using. 

There are certainly other herbs you can use to flavor your water that provide an additional benefit, but these are some quick ideas.  Also note that you can drink these at room temperature (which I prefer) or even in warm/hot water (sipping throughout the day).  Have fun experimenting with your water!  

~Please note that this article is for education purposes only and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  #mindbodyyouniversity #mindbodyyou #water #hydration #tea #digestion #anti-inflammatory #antibacterial #nausea #energy #ewg #cleanwater #environmentalworkinggroup

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