Have you ever polished off a glass of water and thought, “That didn’t quench my thirst at all!”

We have all heard we should drink more water.  There are so many reasons why keeping hydrated is important.  Mild dehydration has been linked to fatigue, foggy headedness, and a lower than usual mood. Additionally, because our environment does have harmful chemicals throughout it, keeping up a good intake of filtered water can help reduce a buildup and help your body to flush out those toxins.

But how much should you be drinking?  And how do you know if it is working?  Mayo clinic recommends half your body weight in ounces.

• Meaning;
  • 60oz water intake per 120lb body weight
  • 70oz water per 140lb
  • 80oz per 160lb, and so on.

When we sweat more due to the hot humid weather, exercising in the outdoors, or just because that is how we are built, you may notice that you can’t seem to get your thirst relieved, or you may notice continued signs of dehydration even though you are drinking enough water.  When that happens it may be time to try making your own electrolyte water.

This recipe is simple, packed with minerals, and delicious! It’s just 4 ingredients and it’s not too sweet and not too salty: filtered water, fresh lemon juice, real sea salt, and raw honey. Raw honey is my #1 favorite at home medicine for sore throat. It has vitamin C, vitamins B5, B3, and B2; along with minerals such as calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium and zinc. Make sure your bottle of honey is labeled as raw, as the processing destroys almost all of these vital nutrients.

• INGREDIENTS
  • 1½ cups filtered water
  • ½ lemon, juiced
  • 1/8 to ¼ tsp of sea salt (Himalayan or otherwise)
  • 2 tsp of raw honey (local if possible)
• INSTRUCTIONS
  • mix everything into a mason jar with lid, and shake

 

This recipe stores for up to a week.

This electrolyte water makes for a very balanced flavor, and actually leaves your mouth feeling a little cleaner. Popular sports drinks contain around 32 ounces of sugar in a 20 ounce bottle, in addition to artificial coloring, preservative and stabilizing chemicals. Make raw honey your sweetener of choice, and your body will thank you!

It’s summertime in Minnesota again and keeping yourself hydrated will help you enjoy the heat.

Lauren Peabody LAc

 

Photo by Laura Chouette on Unsplash