Ravishly Red Freezies

It's summer time - YEAY! More summer, less Monday. Am I right or am I right? As a little sun bunny, it's truly my favourite time of the year. What do I do to help beat the heat? My absolute #1 tip is HYDRATION. I CAN NOT emphasize the importance of Hydrating your body enough. Regardless of hot summer weather, hydration should ALWAYS be a part of your daily wellness routine.

I know wine & various beverages "quench" your thirst but that's not what I'm getting at ( although a glass of Rose wine mixed with Kombucha is my current summer jam). I am talking about good ol' fashion H2O. Yes WATER. Plain & simple water. I personally love the "taste" of water. So when people tell me they don't like the taste of water, it just confuses my little ears. BUT there is hope for those water haters! Infusing water is all the rave. Reusable water bottles (toxic material free) with infusing compartments can be found at most stores these days. You know what else is neat? You can infuse anything you like: Lemons, Limes, Watermelon, Mint, Raspberries, Basil, Grapefruit - the list goes on.

How much is enough hydration & is there such a thing as too much?

Tricky question. Each person has individual requirements. So many factors including weight, age, activity, diet, other beverages consumed, exercise, pregnancy & breast feeding, and even where you live (climate) can influence your water intake. For example for each cup of coffee or tea - 1 extra glass of water is required. Same rule applies to alcoholic beverages. I personally use the ratio 1:2.

A rough guideline (it's not the holy grail of water intake) is to multiple your body weight in pounds by 2/3(0.67) = ounces of daily water intake MINIMUM. For example: If Susan weighed 135lbs she would drink at least 11 8oz glasses of water.

Did you know you get water for the food you eat? Foods like cucumber, celery, green peppers, pineapple, strawberries, etc.... have a high water content.

Thirst can be a tricky thing. It often gets confused with hunger. When you're feeling "hungry" drink a full glass of water and wait 15 minutes. If you're still hungry than you were truly hungry. If you weren't hungry after then that was your thirst talking.

Ever heard of water intoxication? It occurs when there is an unsafe excessive water intake that causes an electrolyte imbalance which can have many negative effects on the body including a disturbance in brain function. Not to worry though, it's fairly uncommon but it is possible.

FUN FACT

Did you know your body is about 60% water?!

How does hydrating your body adequately impact your overall health?

nourishes all living cells
improves skin health
lubricates joints
improves nutrient transport & toxin export
improves digestion
balances pH levels
regulates body temperature
blood viscosity (fancy word to describe blood thickness)
energizing
reduces aches, pains & headaches
aids weight loss
boosts immune system

So why I am telling you all about water when this post is titled Ravishly Red Freezies? This recipe was designed to HYDRATE & nourish your hot summer bodies - see what I did there.

Ravishly Red Freezies

2 cups diced Watermelon
1 cup diced Strawberries
1/2 freshly squeezed Lemon
4-6 fresh Mint Leaves (depends how minty you like it)
1 scoop of Prairie Naturals Red Super Food powder

Combine all ingredients in your blender or food processor until a smooth liquid mixture is created. Then pour into your favourite popsicle molds. I found these super cool reusable silicone freezie tubes at Ikea & I absolutely LOVE them. You can find them here ---> Ikea Ice Pop Makers