Water is key to our survival, we know this right?

It all starts with water. Yes a healthy lifestyle begins with enough hydration. In a fast paced world, we are walking like zombies gulping down two to three cups of coffee a day (or may be even more). And water seems so insignificant. We almost don’t think about it. And although we wake ourselves up with more coffee, the fatigue and vagueness of mind still persists as the day advances. Probably feeling more jittery by the end of the day.

Why couldn’t we pay attention to our water intake and act sincerely to correct it. Water is the simplest, healthiest and least expose ice beverage on the planet. And yet we are not so appreciative of our access to water. We lack the alertness that it’s a requirement for life.

At least 60-70% of our body is composed of water. The twenty- first- century lifestyle is ignoring this health marvel.

If you started treading on your health journey, then the simplest action you can take right now is to increase your intake of water. This will also help you replace the excess caffeine, the sugary sodas amd other drinks.

The best bet is to have a glass or two of water upon waking up. This helps with gently waking up your system from a night’s rest. And adding a glass of water 20 minutes before every meal is also great way to amp up your water intake.

Let’s choose health over taste. Can we?

In order to incorporate water in your health journey, you sure can make small shifts. Nothing big.

• Sparkle your water – I’d love a good squeeze of lemon or orange in my water. In summer, I’d throw a couple of slices of citrus in a huge pitcher of water and have my whole family enjoy a refreshing drink all day. Infuse water with your favourite fruits or veggies. My favourites are sliced cucumbers, strawberries, watermelon and mint leaves. To make it more fancy, I occasionally mix soda water to my plain water, some fresh orange juice and ice cubes. It’s my special mocktail without any guilt.

• Skip the caffein and embrace the herbs– any fresh herbs in your pantry like rosemary, mint, holy basil are such great herbs for a quick cup of warm cup of tea.

• Turmeric lattes – an unsweetened plant based milk with fresh grated turmeric, pinch of black pepper and a hint of sweetener if desired. This is one of the most nourishing drinks after a workout or an intensive sport. I enjoy this also in the evening before bed time and so does my family. Turmeric is an apoptogenic superfood derived from roots that combat fatigue and stress.

• Green tea in the afternoon can be a refreshing drink to recharge your mind. It is high in antioxidants and also is an excellent source of prebiotic and polyphenols. A small tip is to add a squeeze of citrus to crank up the levels of antioxidants from the green tea. Organic Matcha is another great choice. Yes the taste can be very earthy to many specially if you are a newbie match drinker. But you will get used to the taste.

• Smoothies & Juices- Keep it fresh. Yes, this is the most important point. Keep your smoothies and juices fresh whenever possible. Keep in mind to have juices mainly of veggies since fruit juices tend to act up on the blood sugar balance. Smoothies come packed with the fruit fiber which helps stabilize your blood sugar. Both these beverages can be a great way to hydrate your body. They have plenty of water in them.

• Lastly, to all my coffee lovers – Do remember, to pound the water before, during and after coffee consumption. Since coffee itself has a dehydrating quality. And a side note- if drinking coffee irritates your bowel, it’s best to avoid coffee for a week completely and see how you feel.

Special note – Question that many wonder? How much water is enough in a day?

The answer is to let your body tell you how much water you need. Water requirements may vary based on many factors and can vary from day to day. Specific daily activities, your type of work ( indoor, or desk job), your physiological health (suffering from cold, constipation, or any ailments).

The best way to track if you are drinking enough water is to check the color of your pee. If it’s pale yellow then it’s most likely you are well hydrated. Any shade of yellow darker than that is a sign you are dehydrated.

Disclaimer: Nurture Yourself is not in any way responsible for your health condition now and in future. The information given on our website is based on our experience and knowledge acquired from various books and literature. This does not in any way recommends you to disregard your physicians or other medical professionals advice or suggestion. 

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Also check our latest blog recipe Creamy Broccoli Soup Recipe.