Summer is here and it is that time of the year when we have to be cautious about our health. During this season we are prone to illness, so eating healthy is important and staying hydrated is very essential. Water is the most important components of our daily diets and consuming it helps regulate body temperature and sustain healthy vital organs.
Here are some ways you can follow to stay hydrated:
- Keep a water bottle handy and drink water wherever and whenever you can.
- Drink a glass of water before every meal.
- Ensure you eat fruits and vegetables; they are great sources of water.
- Give some flavour to the water without adding any extra calories by adding a slice of lemon, lime, and/or mint to your water.
- Replenish your fluids post a visit to the restroom.
Avoid energy drinks because they contain large amounts of sugar and stimulants, they can be harmful to the body. Sometimes they can be dangerous; because the caffeine and the amino acid taurine present can increase blood pressure and the heart rate. Water is the best!
Try out these simple and easy mocktails to keep the fluid flowing and remain in the hydrated zone.
Basil Lemonade
Ingredients
1cup sugar
1 cup fresh Basil leaves, plus
8 sprigs Basil leaves for garnishing
8 cups lemonade
Method
- In a small pan, bring the sugar and 1 1/2 cups cold water to a simmer over medium heat. Cook for about 5 minutes, without stirring, until the sugar dissolves and the mixture thicken slightly.
- Remove from heat, add the basil, and let it cool to room temperature.
- Strain the syrup into a container.
- Pour 2 to 3 teaspoons of the basil syrup into the ice-filled glasses, and then fill the glass with lemonade.
- Garnish with an additional sprig of basil.
Tip: You can cover and refrigerate the remaining syrup for up to 2 weeks.
Cucumber and Lime Spritzer
Ingredients
1bottle club soda
1/4cup fresh lime juice
1 cucumber, thinly sliced
Mint Leaves to garnish
Method
In a pitcher, combine the club soda, lime juice, and cucumber. Serve over ice.
Lemon Ice Tea
Ingredients
2 large lemons
1 ¼ cups sugar
2 cups fresh mint leaves, (keep some aside for garnish)
6 black tea bags
½ cup fresh lemon juice
Method
- Use a vegetable peeler and remove the peel from yellow lemons.
- Combine lemon peel and sugar in a medium pan with 1/2 cup water and bring to a boil until the sugar dissolves
- Reduce the heat and simmer for 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in mint. Cool to room temperature.
- Strain the mix once cooled.
- Dip the tea bags in 4 cups of boiling water and cover for 5 minutes. Then remove tea bags.
- Stir in syrup, lemon juice, 4 cups cold water, and ice cubes.
- Serve in tall glasses filled with ice and a few mint leaves.
Watermelon-Lime Cooler
Ingredients
6 cups seedless watermelon chunks
4 tablespoons frozen limeade concentrate
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 ½ cups crushed ice
Lime slices for garnish
Method
- Mix all ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth (add water, only if necessary).
- Transfer to a pitcher filled with ice
- Serve in tall glasses.
- Garnish with lime slices.
Ginger Beer
Ingredients
4 lemons
1 orange
¾ cup roughly chopped fresh ginger
¾ cup honey
¾ cup sugar
1 ¼ cups orange juice
4 cups sparkling mineral water, chilled
Method
- Grate 2 tablespoons of lemon and orange zest.
- Squeeze 1/3 cup lemon juice from 3 of the lemons. Set aside.
- In a blender, blend ginger, honey.
- Add the orange and lemon juices and process.
- Transfer to a large container with a lid.
- Add the orange and lemon zests along with 2 cups of boiling water and stir until the sugar dissolves.
- Cool to room temperature.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 24 hours and up to 5 days.
To serve: Strain the ginger beer base into a pitcher. Thinly slice lemon and orange to form circles. Add the slices and mineral water to the pitcher and stir. Serve with ice.
Beet The Heat
Beetroot and pomegranate are delicious, seasonal and good for you – what could be better than that! Beetroot is good for your skin, preventing any skin related inflammations, and your blood, preventing you from developing anaemia. Pomegranate is good for the heart and is considered a ‘cooling’ fruit.
Ingredients
Beetroot – 1
Pomegranate – 1
Salt – 1 pinch
Sugar – to taste
Water –2 cups
Preparation
- Grate the beetroot. This will make it easier to blend.
- Slice the pomegranate and separate the seeds from the skin of the fruit.
- Blend beetroot and pomegranate together to form a thick, smooth paste.
- Add the entire concoction to the water and mix well.
- If necessary, add salt and sugar to the juice, depending on how you like it.
- Serve chilled.
Citrus Goodness
Sweet lime is a good source of Vitamin C and potassium. It has cooling properties and a glass of sweet lime juice is a traditional way to cool the body down. It also aids the digestive processes. Like sweet lime, cucumber is also a good digestive aid. It is also great for preventing any skin outbreaks.
Ingredients
Sweet lime – 2
Cucumber – 1
Ginger – one small piece
Mint – 10 leaves
Tulsi – 10 leaves
Salt – a pinch
White pepper – to taste
Honey – 3 to 4 tbsp
Water – 2 cups
Preparation
- First slice the sweet limes. Take the sliced fruit and place it in the blender.
- Next, grate the cucumber and add it to the sliced sweet lime in the blender.
- Grate the ginger. Only use one of these grated pieces in the juice. It is a good idea to boil the ginger before adding it to the juice. This lessens the smell, making it less overpowering.
- Add the mint and tulsi leaves to the mixture.
- After this, add the honey and water in the blender and blend everything together.
- Add a pinch of salt to the now smooth paste, along with the pepper, to achieve the right taste.
- Serve chilled.
An Orange Affair
Remember the old wives’ tale that carrots would help improve your eyesight? Well, a carrot a day may not be able to banish your spectacles but it can definitely act as a good source of Vitamin C, Potassium and Vitamin B. Studies have even indicated that carrots can prevent the development of cancer. Oranges, carrying a healthy dose of vitamin C, were the age old answer to ailments like scurvy. Oranges are also excellent for patients suffering from serious illnesses like jaundice and typhoid as they help stimulate the digestive system and promote the immunity of the body.
Ingredients
Carrots – 4
Oranges – 2
Mint – 10 leaves
Tulsi – 10 leaves
Salt – a pinch
White pepper – to taste
Honey – 2 tbsp
Water – 2 cups
Preparation
- First take the carrots and grate them and then put in the blender.
- Next, cut open the orange and remove the flesh of the fruit. Remove the seeds and then deposit the fruit pieces in the blender.
- Add the mint and tulsi leaves to the mix in the blender.
- Add the honey and water to the mix as well.
- Blend everything together to form an even, smooth concoction.
- Add a little pepper and salt, depending on your preference.
- Served chilled.
Amazing Amala
Amla (gooseberry) is a wonderful source of Vitamin C and protein. It also has antibacterial properties and is useful in preventing the outspread of infection. Amla has antioxidant properties and can be directly co-related to the increase in red blood cells in the body. Ginger also has several health properties. It is excellent for digestion, lowering blood pressure and for controlling cholesterol.
Ingredients
Amla – 3
Lemon – 4
Ginger – a single small piece
Mint – 10 leaves
Salt – a pinch
Sugar – to taste
Preparation
- First, take the gooseberries and grate them.
- Next, grate the lemon; it is important to remove the seeds from both the fruits.
- After this, grate the ginger, grind it till it is soft and then boil it. This will ensure that the smell and taste is more subtle.
- Take the amla, lemon and the ginger and put it in the blender. Add the mint leaves to the mix.
- Blend them all together to get a smooth paste.
- Taste and add sugar and salt according to your preference.
- Serve chilled.