Lemon Water Benefits

Here are some reasons why drinking Lemon Infused Water is good for your health:

• Lemon is an excellent and rich source of vitamin C, an essential nutrient that protects the body against immune system deficiencies.
• Lemons contain pectin fiber which is very beneficial for colon health and also serves as a powerful antibacterial.
• It balances maintain the pH levels in the body.
• Having warm lemon juice early in the morning helps flush out toxins.
• It has a synergizing effect on the body as it helps soothe the digestive system.
• It aids digestion and encourages the production of bile.
• It conditions and clenches the liver.
• It is also a great source citric acid, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium.
• It helps prevent the growth and multiplication of pathogenic bacteria that cause infections and diseases.
• It helps reducing pain and inflammation in joints and knees as it dissolves uric acid.
• It helps cure the common cold.
• The potassium content in lemon helps nourish brain and nerve cells.
• It liquefies the bile and also helps regulate the excess flow of bile.
• It strengthens the liver by providing energy to the liver enzymes when they are too dilute.
• It helps balance the calcium and oxygen levels in the liver.
• It can help relieve the problem of indigestion and excess gas.
• In case of a heart burn, taking a glass of concentrated lemon juice can give relief.
• In case of pregnant and lactating women, lemon juice will help build strong bones in a child, due to its calcium content.
• It helps dissolve gall bladder stones and other calcium build ups that are dangerous to the body.
• It is of immense benefit to the skin and it prevents the formation of wrinkles and acne.
• It helps maintain the health of the eyes and helps fight against eye problems.
• It aids in the reduction of phlegm (mucus) produced by the body.
• It has an alkalizing effect on the body.
• It helps control the speeding of unhealthy bacteria in the gut.
• Aids in the production of digestive juices.
• It helps purify the blood.
• Lemon juice helps replenish body salts especially after a strenuous workout session.
• It can treat a sore throat. Gargle with warm lemon water to help ease a sore throat.

The Amazing Blueberries !

 

Heart Health

The National Institutes of Health conducted a study which examined how a diet rich in blueberries might affect heart health. The study, conducted on rats and published in the June 2009 issue of "PLoS One," showed that the blueberry-rich diet helped reduce inflammation within the heart and also reduced the risk of heart attack and heart failure.

Skin Health

Eating blueberries not only protects your body from the inside, it can also offer protection for the outside. One of the main causes of skin damage is sun exposure, specifically the sun's UV-B rays. These rays cause premature aging and wrinkling by damaging the skin's structure and destroying the skin's collagen. Researchers at the Department of Food and Nutrition and Korean Institute of Nutrition in Korea found that when skin cells were exposed to an extract from edible blueberries, it helped stop the degradation of the skin's collagen.

Tips to drink more water ...

If you think you need to be drinking more, here are some tips to increase your fluid intake and reap the benefits of water:

1. Have a beverage with every snack and meal.
2. Choose beverages you enjoy; you're likely to drink more liquids if you like the way they taste.
3. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Their high water content will add to your hydration. About 20% of our fluid intake comes from foods.
4. Keep a bottle of water with you in your car, at your desk, or in your bag.
5. Choose beverages that meet your individual needs. If you're watching calories, go for non-caloric beverages or water.

Healthy and hydrated: 5 Easy recipes for fruit infused water !

Staying hydrated during the summer is important, but let’s face it… water is just plain boring. Thankfully, my mom shared these recipes with me, which can add some life (and nutritional value) to my daily H2O. I think you guys will really enjoy trying these out, they’re really tasty and by the end of the day, you won’t believe how much water you actually drank! Here’s to an easy and delicious way to stay hydrated this summer! Cheers!

1) The classic — Lemon and Cucumber:

Mix 10 cups of water in a pitcher with one cucumber and one lemon, thinly sliced and 1/4 cup of fresh finely chopped basil leaf and 1/3 of finely chopped fresh mint leaves. Leave in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

2) The granite — Strawberry and Lime or Raspberry and Lime

Mix 10 cups of water in a pitcher with 6 strawberries 0r 6 Raspberries and one thinly sliced lime and 12 finely chopped fresh mint leaves. Leave in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

3) The digestive — Fennel and Citrus

First, infuse 1 to 3 grams of dried and crushed fennel in 150 ml of boiling water for 5-10 minutes. Allow to cool.
Mix 10 cups of water in a pitcher, add lemon juice (put the leftover lemon in the mix) and a small thinly sliced orange and 12 fresh chopped mint leaves and the infusion of fennel seeds. Leave in refrigerator overnight before serving.

4) The antioxidant — Blackberry and Sage

Mix 10 cups of water in a pitcher with 1 cup of blackberries that have been very slightly crushed and 3-4 sage leaves. Leave in refrigerator overnight before serving.

5) The tropical — Watermelon and Rosemary

Mix 10 cups of water in a pitcher with 1 cup of watermelon cut into cubes and 2 rosemary stems. Leave in refrigerator overnight before serving.

If you use any of these recipes to make your own fruit infused waters this summer, or if you created your own flavors, let us know by sending a picture on Twitter or Instagram ! Enjoy!

Watermelon, Cucumber and Mint Water Recipe !

Delights, cools, and refreshes even the thirstiest among us on hot, summer days.

Ingredients:

• 4 fresh mint leaves
• 15 super thin slices of cucumber
• 1 gallon of filtered water

Stir everything together in a glass pitcher. Add some ice or put it in the fridge. Let the flavors mingle for a time. If you crush your mint leaves in the water, you can drink it as soon as the Cucumber Mint Water cools.

Decreases the risk of obesity and overall mortality, diabetes, heart disease and promotes a healthy complexion and hair, increased energy, overall lower weight.

Water Wonders Besides Hydration ...

Stay slimmer with water: 

Drinking more water also helps pump up your metabolism -- especially if your glass is icy cold. Your body must work to warm the water up, burning a few extra calories in the process.

Water boosts your energy:

 

If you're getting enough water, your heart also doesn’t have to work as hard to pump blood throughout your body.

Lower stress with water:

 

To keep stress levels down, keep a glass of water at your desk or carry a sports bottle and sip regularly

Build muscle tone with water:

 Drinking water helps prevent muscle cramping and lubricates joints in the body. When you're well hydrated, you can exercise longer and stronger without "hitting the wall."

Nourish your skin:

 

Drinking water hydrates skin cells and plumps them up, making your face look younger.

Best times to eat ...

Morning

Don’t skip breakfast. Reporting in the American Heart Association journal Circulation, Harvard School of Public Health researchers studied the health outcomes of 26,902 male health professionals ages 45 to 82 over a 16-year period. They discovered that the men who skipped breakfast had a 27% higher risk of heart attack or death from heart disease than those who honored the morning meal. According to the scientists, skipping breakfast may make you hungrier and more likely to eat larger meals, which leads to a surge in blood sugar. Such spikes can pave the way for diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels, all risk factors that can snowball into a heart attack.

Afternoon

Fuel up at the right time. In the 1960s, nutritionist Adelle Davis popularized the mantra “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper.” Why? Fueling up makes sense earlier in the day, when your body needs the most calories for energy. That’s why in many European countries, the largest meal of the day occurs in the afternoon. “Ideally, you want to give yourself fuel before you do harder labor".

Evening

Don’t overdo it. Calories get burned up no matter when you eat them, so theoretically it’s O.K. to eat after dark. But if you eat a heavy dinner, you’re not as likely to get rid of those calories before you turn in. “What you don’t burn off is more likely to be stored as fat, as you become less active toward the end of the day,” says Tracy Lockwood, a registered dietitian at F-Factor Nutrition. “Eating too close to bedtime increases your blood sugar and insulin, which causes you to have a hard time falling asleep. Therefore, your last meal should be the lightest of the day and should be eaten at least three hours before you go to sleep.”

Superfoods That Improve Your Memory !

Quinoa: 

Rich in folic acid, quinoa has been shown to quicken information dispensation and improve our memory. Quinoa is one of the best whole grains you can put into your body because it is a natural source of iron, zinc and protein. It is a complete protein because it contains all essential amino acids. It serves as an incredibly vitamin-packed fibrous side dish to any meal. Quinoa contains selenium and vitamin E that lowers your risk for diabetes and heart disease and may help control weight. 

Berries: 

Blueberries, cranberries, and strawberries have been shown to shield the brain from memory loss and contribute to enhanced memories in various studies. Diets rich in blueberries will actually improve learning capacity and lower stress. In fact, blueberries are among the best source of antioxidants that you can easily purchase and incorporate into your diet. Berries are high in water and fiber that regulates your blood sugar while cutting your sugar cravings. This super food is loaded with phytonutrients, a natural bioactive compound that works with minerals and vitamins to ensure mental and physical health.

Omega-3 Rich Foods: 

Omega-3 fatty acids are extremely beneficial for your body, but in particular for your brain health. Studies show that foods rich in Omega-3 lowers the cell inflammation that causes loss of memory. I wish I could wholeheartedly recommend fish to those that want to eat some animal products, but the truth is that fish is one of the most toxic, polluted foods out there right now. Fish live in the toxic water, and their bodies concentrate the mercury, PCBs and other toxins. 

Apples: 

The skin of apples is loaded with minerals and antioxidants that have demonstrated to defend from memory robbing degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. Quercetin is an excelled source of folic acid, and much more. Get your daily dosage of antioxidants and apples in your morning.

P I N E A P P L E

P I N E A P P L E

This tropical, naturally sweet fruit is perfect for summer, and it's great for your bikini bod too. Pineapple contains bromelain, a digestive enzyme that can help reduce gas.

---

B E N E F I T S:

1. Prevents Free Radical Damage:

Pineapples are a rich source of antioxidants. They fight against free radicals in the body, preventing cell damage. These antioxidants help protect you from diseases like atherosclerosis, heart diseases, arthritis, various cancers etc.

2. Thwarts Off Cold:

Pineapples are abundant in vitamin C and bromelain, which fight against microbial infections. Eating pineapples with the prescribed medicines can help cure cold and cough effectively.

3. Strong Bones:

Rich amount of manganese present in pineapples helps in strengthening bones and connective tissues. A cup of pineapple juice gives you roughly 73% of the required manganese for a day.

---

I N F U S E D   W A T E R   R E C I P E:

Coconut – Pineapple        

 Can increase your energy expenditure, helping you burn more fat.

Ingredients:

Pineapple

Coconut

Water

Ice

E N J O Y 

your Fruit Infused Water, try this recipe in your Infuser Water Bottle ♥

Find out the Top Fruits by H2O Content !

These are 9 fruits that have the highest level of H2O:

Watermelon : 92 % H2O:

Strawberry : 92 % H2O

 

Pink Grapefruit: 91 % H2O

Cantaloupe : 90 % H2O

Pineapple: 87 % H2O

Raspberry : 87 % H2O

Orange : 87 % H2O

Blueberries : 85 % H2O

Banana : 74 % H2O

Facts Of Cucumbers That Will Amaze You !

Cucumbers are very easy to grow and make for a delicious treat. But did you know they can prevent hangovers, or clean the kitchen sink? Below is a list of tips and tricks you can do with cucumbers that you do not want to miss!

Cucumber Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits

Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day. Just one cucumber contains vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc.

This article also highlights some of the other health benefits of the familiar cucumber -- for example, did you know it is also extremely low in calories? 

FIND OUT MORE AT: learni.st ! 

7 Fitness Habits You Need to Establish In Your 20's

Whether you're doing bodyweight circuit training or lifting heavy weights, strength training is great for your overall health: it increases lean muscle mass, boosts metabolism, torches calories, eases back pain, helps you sleep, and even wards off diabetes.

Drink more water, sounds obvious, right? It's not. Most people still don't drink enough, regardless of how many times they read it on the interwebs. Here's a tip: Every time you check Instagram, chug some H2O. It adds up! And if that doesn't work, definitely check out these: 13 Easy Ways to Drink More Water.

Embrace the rest day, this is huge! Do not get into the habit of working out seven days a week, or even attempting to do so. Incorporate a rest day into your routine so your body has time to recover.

Refuel properly post-workout, your body craves a combo of carbs and protein within 30 minutes of working out. The carbs help give you energy, while the protein helps repair torn and stretched muscles.

One of the best things you can do for your body? Pay attention to what it's trying to tell you. Practicing mindfulness can help teach you how to tune in to the things your body needs and is feeling, whether that's while you're eating ("I'm full!") or while you're working out ("this doesn't feel right").

Of course happy hours and weird warehouse loft parties are fun, and they're an essential part of being in your twenties. But if that's all your friends wanna do, that's not going to be super helpful when it comes to meeting your fitness goals. Be sure to also cultivate some friendships with people who are interested in being active, too—you'll be more likely to follow suit and stay motivated.

Have fun! Think of exercise as your time to release your pent-up energy, and have fun with it! Whether you try a hip-hop dance class, schedule a run with friends, or make a new playlist that you can't wait to use at the gym, it's all about seeing fitness as a fun way to spend your time.

Get your Infuser Water Bottle  ! ♥

   Visit our website: Hi-drate H2O !

Like us on Facebook: Hi-drate H2O

                                  Follow us on Twitter: @HIDRATEH2O

Things you ate for lunch, if you were a 90's kid. #TBT

Lunchables gave you the culinary ingenuity to do whatever you wanted with your ingredients. Stack your crackers, cheese, and deli meat up like a leaning tower of junk food, make pizzas out of fudge and M&Ms, shove Reese’s in your mini burgers — the options were infinite.

Bologna and Kraft American cheese sandwich. Nitrites be damned. This sandwich was everything.

Fruit Rolls Ups were like sheets of strawberry-flavored plastic, but you could artistically express yourself with them by making strawberry plastic pizzas and tie-dye hearts.

Handi-Snacks. I’m still not sure why we needed a red wand to make cheese and cracker sandwiches.

 

I’m pretty sure Keebler has stayed afloat in the packaged cookie game solely because their fudge and shortbread cookies are on point and always will be.

Hi-C !

This post was inspired on an article from: http://hellogiggles.com/

#TBT