We all know we need to consume enough water every day to keep our bodies working efficiently, but knowing and doing are two entirely different stories aren’t they?
Water can seem extremely bland and I think it’s likely because our senses are overstimulated with all the processed flavouring that we tend to consume with much of our food. Nonetheless, it is what it is, so how can we make sure to get an appropriate amount of water on a daily basis if it tastes boring? Flavour it!
You can flavour it in a number of ways but let’s chat a little about one of the more popular ways to enhance the flavour of water. When you go down the beverage aisle in the grocery store, you’ll likely notice a decent sized chunk of real estate has been taken over by “water flavour enhancers”. There is a wide variety of brands, flavours and types of these relatively new products that cater to the “needs” of almost everyone.
But what’s in these magical little bottles and packets? At first glance they seem relatively harmless; zero calories, zero sugar, zero fat, but let’s take a peek at some of the ingredients;
Propylene Glycol - this prevents food discolouration, it is linked to liver, kidney, and skin damage, one of the main ingredients in anti freeze.
Aspartame - this is an artificial sweetener that interferes with gut microflora, it can actually promote weight gain.
Sucralose - another artificial sweetener that can cause issues with your gut microflora and absorption of nutrients, it can cause bowel and kidney problems.
Acesulfame Potassium (Ace K) - an artificial sweetener. This one contains methyl chloride which is a known carcinogen. It can cause headaches, nausea, liver problems, hypoglycaemia, and eyesight issues.
Artificial Colours - These can cause allergic reactions and hyperactivity.
“Natural Flavour” - There is a complete lack of transparency with these as the manufacturers do not need to disclose the ingredients. They can be created in a lab by blending synthetic chemicals and natural ingredients to produce the flavours.
Caffeine - Some of the water flavourings contain caffeine which is a diuretic, therefore causing excretion of fluids, which would defeat the purpose of drinking water. Caffeine is also a stimulant, which feels wonderful.... until you crash!
I don’t know about you, but I’m not too thrilled about that list of ingredients! So, what is one to do?
Flavour your water with fruit! It’s super easy and you can use whatever fruit you like. Keep a jug in the fridge so it has time for the flavours to meld. You can use fresh or frozen fruit, wedges of citrus fruit, peppermint or spearmint leaves, cucumber, or a small amount of fruit juice. Be cautious about using too much citrus fruits as the juice can eat away the enamel on your teeth.
Another fun way to flavour your water is to use essential oils, but please be careful which brand you choose! You will want to ensure that the oils you choose are pure and labelled for food flavouring. Use glass or stainless steel containers if you’re using essential oils to enhance your water as the oils will break down plastic.
Don’t you just love a great guacamole?
It’s a fantastic way to get some healthy fats into your diet, and it's jam packed with flavour. It can be switched up every time you make it by adding different vegetables but the main ingredient is avocado.
Avocado is a nutritional powerhouse. It’s high in antioxidants, fibre, and oleic acid, which is a monounsaturated fatty acid that’s beneficial for heart health. This unique fruit contains vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, vitamin E, potassium, and folate. It also has lutein and zeaxanthin which are really good for eye health.
I like to purchase avocados before they are ripe, then they get washed in my fruit & veggie soak and left on the counter to ripen. Once they're ripe, I store them in the fridge. They will keep for quite a while in the fridge, but if I'm not going to use them right away they get cut into cubes and frozen.
Here’s a quick video to show you how I make my guac! Enjoy!
