I hope everyone has been enjoying the summer weather - finally! This has been our first summer experiencing high humidity and now finally getting some sunny days, we thought we would share some ways that we are trying to stay hydrated. :)
It seems like everyone is always saying to drink more water. No one is drinking enough water etc etc. It can feel almost redundant to recommend drinking more water. But in all honesty, we really do observe that clients feel better sooner after massage therapy or acupuncture appointments when they hydrate well before and after. And we have been noticing an increase in headaches coming into the clinic. Could it be the humidity or barometric pressure, warm weather, dehydration? Maybe? Certainly doesn’t hurt and only helps to get more water in.
Nutrition is out of scope of massage therapy, but within scope of acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine. So, Hayley helped with taste testing, but that is all. :) Also, these are merely flavour enhancer ideas to make it easier to get more water in, not claiming any other health benefits. Of course it goes without saying, but be mindful of your own allergies and avoid if necessary.
Here are some fun ways to make water taste better! Some common ideas, and some more creative.
We try to avoid sipping on water with lemon juice all day, as it can be bad for your teeth, (but we are no experts). These options are just as easy and refreshing but without the acidity.
We kept it really simple and just added the herbs to cold water, and let it sit for at least 30 minutes room temperature, or overnight in the fridge. Overnight in the fridge resulted in stronger flavours. But even 30 minutes at room temperature worked for a mild mellow flavour. And ultimately we both have found that we end up drinking more water this way.
Flavour Enhancers:
Ginger, fresh slices: spicy and fresh, mild flavour
Fresh Mint: classic summertime flavour, delicious, refreshing
Cucumber: oldie but a goodie, cooling, stronger flavour
Lime leaves: citrusy and fresh, strong flavour, Andre’s favourite. Great alternative to citrus juice
Lemongrass: fresh and citrusy, slightly spicy, strong flavour, Hayley’s favourite
Rosemary: fresh, woodsy and unexpected, mild flavour, simply lovely
If you are in Saint John, you can find lime leaves and lemongrass in the frozen section of Freshville Supermarket in Uptown. Those were our favourites! I think we will be stocking our freezer all summer. So lovely and fresh and reminiscent of Thailand.
Rosemary was the surprising option, definitely a winner. Fresh rosemary keeps well in the fridge or freezer, easy to have on hand.
I also ended up mixing all the herbs together with water and that was also awesome! I imagine any combo of these herbs would taste great.
Well, we are feeling better after sampling all these flavoured waters! These will be on repeat all summer for maximum hydration. :)
- Oceanside Acupuncture & Massage Therapy
Proudly serving residents of all corners of Greater Saint John NB, including Rothesay, Quispamsis, and Westfield-Grand Bay.