Heat wave: 6 healthy drinks to cool down and stay hydrated if you don’t like water

Water is an essential nutrient for our body to function efficiently. Not hydrating properly can cause us health problems in the future. In addition, that in the short term it generates symptoms such as headache, tiredness, fatigue, among others. That is why we share a list of drinks that you can drink if you do not like pure water.

The human body is composed of water, 55% to 70%. This depends on age, sex and body composition. Water is in each of our cells and has multiple vital functions. There are formulas and recommendations for how much water we should drink. Some organizations suggest at least 2 liters of water, others that we multiply our by 35 ml of water and others that we divide our weight by 7 and the result is the number of glasses (of 250 ml) that we should drink. Whatever formula you use, it is very clear that we must drink water.

Nothing replaces pure water. It is the best for our health, however, we know how complex it can be to start a new habit like drinking 8 glasses of water a day. For this reason, we give you a list of options with which you can help to complete your water requirement, and why not, little by little, start with the good habit of drinking plain water.

1. Fruity water

Fruity water is a great option to start drinking water. It is not plain water, as it tends to have a light taste and is much easier to drink, and since it is not a fruit juice, it does not have sugar.

To make them, you only need slices of your favorite fruit in 2 liters of water. The combination of red fruits and soft citrus fruits such as oranges or limes goes very well. Also, you can add mint leaves, good grass or lemon verbena. If you want to sweeten your fruity water you can use stevia and monk fruit. Remember that due to the high temperatures we currently have, it is better to keep your fruit water refrigerated. Be creative and try the fruits and herbs that you like.

2. Lemonade

Lemonade is a classic, and it’s actually a great alternative. This drink provides us with a small but necessary vitamin C, which we obtain through the lemon. Being so easy to prepare and cheap, it becomes a good ally to combat thirst.

The negative of this traditional and famous drink is that in many places too much sugar is added to it. Ideally, the lemonade should not be sweetened. We know that at first it will be complicated, but then you get used to taking it without sugar. If you want to sweeten it, you can use stevia or monk fruit, two sweeteners that have no calories and will not raise your blood glucose.

3. Infusions

Infusions are a great tool to keep us hydrated. There are so many varieties that we can take a different one every day. You can prepare yourself an iced tea, with plenty of ice to combat the summer heat, and in winter, you can take it as a hot drink to combat the cold. They are wonderful!

Among the most common infusions we find: anise, chamomile, black tea, red tea, green tea, lemon verbena, mint, lemon verbena, red fruit tea, mint tea, among others. Drink them like ice water and hydrate.

4. Vegetable drinks

Vegetable drinks are also an option to keep us hydrated. In fact, some have more vitamins and minerals as well as natural electrolytes. For example, coconut drink is a great option to provide potassium, an electrolyte that is lost during exercise or sweat.

Remember that when buying your vegetable drink it should not have added sugar or octagons, otherwise it is no longer a healthy option to add to your diet on a daily basis. There are many sugar-free brands on the market. You just have to read the label. There is also the option of preparing them at home. They usually last between 3 to 4 days in the fridge, and you also save a lot of money by making them yourself.

5. Matcha

Matcha is a variant of green tea that is packed with antioxidants, which help stabilize damaging free radicals, which are compounds that can disrupt cells and cause chronic disease.

This green powder can be mixed with a vegetable drink or with water. You can drink it cold, with a lot of ice, or hot. Of course, it is recommended not to consume more than 4 cups a day, considering that each cup provides around 35g of caffeine.

6. Kombucha

Kombucha, a probiotic drink made from tea (black, red, or green), is a good replacement for those who drink a lot of soda a day. It has benefits for the well-being of the intestinal microbiota and as an antioxidant, due to the tea that is used. However, there are also studies that suggest that it is better not to consume it in particular cases such as pregnancy or when you have an autoimmune disease.

Currently, there are many brands that offer kombuchas in Peru. They are different from each other, some are flavored with fruit, others have a strong flavor, others are lighter. There are for all tastes and prices. The recommended amount of kombucha to drink is one glass a day, that is, only 250 ml.

Now that you know what other healthy and natural drinks you can drink with, there is no excuse for being dehydrated.