Dr. DIY: Wellness Concoctions & Elixirs to Keep You Healthy
Coffee may work as a pick-me-up first thing in the morning, but it is not the brew you need to activate your digestive system and really get going all day long. What about during that afternoon slump? That’s the wrong time of day for coffee—and soda comes with its own hazards. So, what can you do? Consider powerful potions that work any time of the day to restore electrolytes, improve nutrition, and give you an energy boost.
Warm Lemon Water
Believe it or not, a cup of warm lemon water first thing in the morning gets your digestive tract ready to work and provides you with some important vitamins—plus it’s easy to make.
Start with a glass of lukewarm, purified water. It shouldn’t be hot like tea, but a little warmer than room temperature. Squeeze in about a half a lemon—and add more or less depending on your taste preference.
Experiment with some extras to enhance the health perks and taste. For example, add a little cayenne pepper to give your drink some pep. Maybe a fresh piece of mint for flavor, or a couple drops of local honey to help fight seasonal allergies will do do the trick.
Fruit-Infused Water
Fruit and water are perfect bedfellows, so try adding different kinds of fruit to your water to create a custom flavor you love. Also, don’t be afraid to mix and match fruit and herbs!
Some delicious combinations include:
- Raspberry and mint
- Orange and kiwi
- Strawberry and mint
- Blueberry and lime
Start with sparkling water (around two cups for each serving) and some ice. Mix in whole fruit and fresh herbs to taste. Plan for about one cup of the berries or a whole piece of sliced fruit per serving. Add fresh herbs, and then let it sit for a few hours in the refrigerator. The longer you let it infuse, the stronger the flavor! Pour the infused water over ice for something cool and refreshing, or drink it right from the jug.
You can make these drinks by the glass or in large batches to infuse the whole family with something healthy and homemade.
A Homemade Sports Drink
The power of Gatorade doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Want to know a secret? All it takes is a couple cups of coconut water, some lemon juice, sugar-free simple sugar and a ¼ teaspoon of sea salt! This combination will restore your electrolytes after a hard workout,
When DIY is Not Your Style
There are plenty of healthy pre-made drinks for those who don’t want the hassle of mixing their own elixir. Fresh juice like cranberry or orange is always a better choice than soda; however, you should avoid products with a lot of preservatives or artificial flavoring.
Low-sodium vegetable drinks are a practical option if you are not interested in something sweet. The tomato in the drinks like V8 provides vitamin C and is a rich source of the antioxidant lycopene to potentially reduce your risk of certain cancers.
The right drink will give you energy while enhancing your nutrition and, hopefully, taste great, too. It’s just a matter of finding an elixir what works for you and perfecting it.