It’s getting warmer and with warmer weather and barbecues people like to enjoy a cold beverage, but are you choosing the right one? The average person does not drink enough water. Adults should be drinking at least 64 ounces a day, that is 8 eight-ounce glasses. This amount should increase if you are outside and active during warm weather.
Did you know that the human body is 60% water and the brain is 75% water?! When you don’t get in enough water you can’t function properly. Getting enough water in does not mean waters flavored with sugar, and yes I am also talking about those "waters" labeled as having vitamins.
Drinking sugary beverages not only increases your risk for type 2 diabetes and other health issues, but drinking sugary beverages actually makes you more thirsty. The body tries to get rid of excess sugar in the body by peeing it out and it does this by increasing your thirst. So do your body a favor and drink more water.
I understand that water can get boring to some people so I am going to give you some ideas on how to flavor your water in a healthy way for you to enjoy on a daily basis and at your next barbecue. It is very simple; all you need is water, fruits and possibly some herbs and vegetables. The longer the fruits, herbs and vegetables sit in the water the more flavorful its gets. Plain seltzer water or unsweetened tea can also replace plain water. Make sure to read the label and make sure the seltzer water and tea is not sweetened.
For a party fill a large pitcher with water and add in the flavors an hour or so before the party. For individual flavored waters you can fill a water bottle and add in the flavors or for more flavor let it sit over night in the fridge to take to work the next day.
Here are some delicious combos:
Citrus Waters:
Lemon and lime
Lemon and oranges
Grapefruits and oranges
Lemon, lime and orange
Berry Waters:
Strawberry, raspberry and orange
Strawberry and kiwi
Strawberry and lemon
Blueberry and orange
Blueberry and lime
Blackberry, blueberry, raspberry and citrus
Strawberry and pineapple
Melon Waters:
Watermelon, honeydew and cantaloupe
Watermelon and lime
Cantaloupe and orange
Cantaloupe and strawberry
Cantaloupe and lemon
Honeydew and lime
Vegetable and herb waters:
Cucumber, lime and watermelon
Cucumber, strawberry and mint
Watermelon and rosemary
Pineapple and mint
Blackberry and sage
Blackberry and basil
Citrus and ginger (ginger is a very strong flavor, a lot goes a long way)
Feel free to experiment with a mix of any of these flavors! Enjoy!