Spa waters are everywhere on Pinterest these days. I decided to finally try them and do a little research on the benefits. You might be surprised to find that spa waters aren't just a fancy way to drink your water.
The Importance of Staying Hydrated
Did you know that 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated? That it takes just a 2% drop in hydration to make your head feel fuzzy? You can increase your concentration, health and energy just by drinking enough water! That's a good reason to start upping your water intake. And yes, it should be water, sodas, tea and coffee are diuretics and don't really hydrate you.
Doctors recommend that you drink 8 glasses of water a day. That's harder than it sounds! I usually get two down during the day, tops. That's why I really like these spa waters. I drink a lot more and actually hit my goal most days now.
Losing Weight with Spa Waters
Need to drop some pounds? The best way to do that is to avoid reaching for high calorie snacks and drinks. Homemade flavored waters can be really useful for this. I find myself sipping away all day when I have something with a little taste to it. You'll eat less and won't feel as deprived.
Boost That Metabolism
Certain foods will help you increase your metabolism, so you'll burn more calories throughout the day. These include apples, mint, cucumber and citrus fruits. Consider adding one or two of these to your water.
What to Put In Your Water
Anything that you like the sounds of will work! Here are a few suggestions:
Cucumber: boosts metabolism, acts as an anti-inflammatory
Lemon/Lime: Vitamin C, boosts metabolism
Orange: Vitamin C, boosts metabolism
Mint: cools the body, boosts metabolism
Ginger: increases immunity, boosts metabolism
Cinnamon: helps you lose weight, increases immunity
Strawberries: Vitamin C, adds sweetness
Apples: boost metabolism, adds sweetness
Peaches: adds sweetness, Vitamin C
Kiwi: Vitamin C, boosts metabolism
Now, keep in mind that these are very lightly flavoring the water, so you probably aren't going to get crazy benefits from them, but it is certainly a good way to help your drink your water.
How to Prepare Your Spa Water
Once you have chosen your fruits and vegetables, slice them thinly. I find that a mandolin works very well for this. Berries can go in whole. Toss everything into a pitcher and fill with water.
Keep the pitcher in the fridge and when it reaches the halfway mark, just refill it. You can do this all day long. It's a great help to help you drink enough water throughout the day.
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We do this all the time! We also add watermelon. And unsweetened herb tea also helps toward hydration. Nice post!