crisp water rebalance

Hello folks!

I don't know about you, but all those extra helpings of winter food and one too many a creamed coffee has caught up with me, I'm feeling just a little deflated. It's almost spring, and it's time to start the yearly cleanse - get all the muck out of the gutters so to speak. A lot of what I'm going to write you already know, so think of it as a reminder. This guide is here to help me as much as it is you!

In some parts of far east Asia it's easy to buy drinks to help balance and replete necessary positive and negative ions inside you. They understand the importance of bodily equilibrium and how to properly keep ourselves in good condition. There's a reason why many people in remote villages and settlements have such long life expectancies, and that's because their more pure lifestyles are better in tune with the core needs of the body. Many of us have such rushed and hectic lives we get caught up in routines and processes that are neglectful and damaging to our well being.

Ideally, we would all be eternally eating diets made up of nutritious, fresh, unrefined, and seasonally sustainable foods. Our bodies would have a much nicer time digesting and extracting heaps of goodness, and we would probably feel a lot calmer and happier. Still, give yourself a break, life's hard and you want another Welshy. Finding the right path between doing what we should and what we want is true success, because treats and indulgence are as important as looking after ourselves.

This is my crisp water rebalance. It's not a useless fad diet. it's a series of steps to help encourage you to live a more internally pure life, and it revolves around a wonderfully nutritious, hydrating, and delicious drink.

Step One - Hydrate

Just drinking more water will do you wonders. Keeping well hydrated is probably the most important step in all of the things we can do for our wellbeing, yet so many of us don't drink anywhere near enough. This recipe for crisp water brings together four ingredients you probably have in your kitchen already, to make a nutrient rich drink that will help your body along its way.

You will need:
Two litres of mineral water
One lime
Half a lemon
Large handful of fresh mint
Half a peeled cucumber.

Why will you need them?

Lime - Those little green fruit have a whole host of benefits most of us have never heard of. Lime juice contains potent anti-carcinogens called flavonoids that help to inhibit the growth of cancer as well as aid digestion. Flavonol glycosides offer antibiotic properties to help fight off infection, while liminoids found in limes stimulate a liver enzyme that detoxifies a variety of cancer causing chemicals. Lime juice is also known to help in weight loss, as it's acid aids the break down of fat in the body.

Cucumber - Contains a good source of provitamin A. They have anti inflammatory properties which help to settle disrupt tummies. They also contain chemical fighting antioxidants, and their juice is essential for healthy skin (cucumber eye masks anyone?).

Lemon - The ancient antioxidant. Wonderful for the immune system, these intensely vitamin c rich fruits do a brilliant job of fighting off colds and illness. They have antibacterial properties and will aid in digestion and liver health. Calcium, magnesium, limonene, pectin and citric acid all work together to promote good immune health and wellness.

Fresh mint - Rich in carotenes which can be beneficial to eye and cardiovascular health. They also contain vitamins a, c, b12, folic acid, and riboflavin, along with many minerals like copper and iron. Mint helps with digestive health, skin conditions and to ease and unblock the breathing passages.

The directions couldn't be simpler. Grab a large capacity jar and fill with your water. Add sliced lemon, lime, and cucumber. Bruise the mint in your palms before adding to help release the flavours. Chill in the fridge for at least five hours and then drink as you please, as regularly as possible to flush out the system. If you can manage two litres a day, then a gold star is in order! I know not all of you have the time to make crisp water. Normal water does the job perfectly, this recipe is just a great way of packing in some extra goodies.

 

Step Two - Eat Well

As you all know most of our food is littered with harming, unpleasant additives. We guzzle down foods containing anything from artificial ingredients known to aggravate head aches, to nasties that will do a whole lot worse. More and more people are becoming intolerant to wheat than ever before, most likely because of the amount of unhealthy white flour wafting around in our foods. I won't even start on the dangers of cultivated, refined sugar and diabetes.

It's not hard to eliminate these things from the diet. Well balanced and truly natural dishes can be very comforting and satisfying. There are some golden rules to follow when it comes to ditching the rubbish:

- Wave a firm and heartfelt goodbye to refined sugar and flour, you are so much better off without it.

- Try to cut down on your intake of fizzy diet drinks. The chemicals in their sweeteners are known to play havoc with the brain.

- Always try to cook with olive oil instead of cooking oil.

- Choose lean meats. The fat in meats, particularly red meats, is highly saturated and not good for the body.

- Reduce the coffee, two mugs a day is more than enough.

- Avoid ready meals, including supposed "diet" ones, like the plague. They are usually bowls of slop that have little to no proper nutritional value.

Your diet should ideally be meat and two veg. These are the golden rules on eating right:

- Healthy, low fat meats and fish are wonderful sources of energy, calories! and protein for the body.

- Eat as many fresh vegetables and fruit as you want. A plate of super ripe mango and strawberries is infinitely more delicious than a chocolate bar.

- Try and keep your carbohydrates unrefined - whole grain breads and brown rice are both great for you.

- The best fat sources are natural untampered ones. Milk and most other dairy products, eggs, avocados, nuts, coconut oil, flax oil, canola oil, and virgin olive oils. Avoid any food product that has the word "hydrogenated" on the back, these trans fats are nothing short of evil.

- Buy organic when you can, it's normally only a few pence more expensive. There's really no need for us to be eating pesticides.

- Swap your chocolate bar for some 70% or higher plain chocolate, eat it with fresh, ripe fruit for an indulgent snack.

- Flavour is your friend. Keep your diet alive and interesting with the use of fresh herbs and spices. Add garlic, pepper and (in moderation) salt to your foods. Sweeten things with honey.

- Drink. I've covered it in step one but I can't stress it enough, aim for two litres of water a day.

And my most important rule: Fibre. Make sure that every day you are eating the recommended daily dose of fibre - 25g. Increasing the levels of fibre in your diet will keep your body going like clockwork. It is essential to healthy digestion, and will push out what you've been putting in. A diet high in fibre can leave you feeling light and airy.

Step Three - Sleep

You should be getting at least seven hours a night. Preferably eight. Sleep is so important, it gives our bodies time to repair and nurture. Our brain can debrief and discard the days troubles and we pump ourselves full of energy again. Depriving ourselves of sleep not only leaves us feeling tired and useless, but it makes you look bad too. No one wants puffy, dark eyes and a poor complexion.

Step Four - You Time

It pains me when I hear people saying they have no time for themselves. Firstly, how sad. Secondly, yes you do! No matter how hectic your life, there is always an hour here or there than you can take for yourself, and you should. Our lives are too stressful, doctors think this stress is contributing to insomnia, depression, low self esteem, aggression and fatigue. Time to unwind is essential. Whether its an hour of yoga or meditation, a long bath, a slow paced walk, or even just curling up on the sofa with a good book - the break will do you good!

I take an hour or so out of my day, every day for my blog. It might be writing post drafts, scribbling down recipe ideas in a notebook, or catching up with the other blogs I read. It's calming and it's my downtime. I think this spring I am going to take up meditative yoga, I've never done it before but it sounds lovely and it's trying something new. You should too!

Step Five - Enjoy Life!

The worst thing you can do, is to forget to enjoy yourself. Life shouldn't be about restriction. If in the main, you follow the steps I've set out above you'll feel fresher, healthier and more comfortable in your own skin. But, for a quarter of the time, ignore it all and enjoy life! Have that extra glass of wine, slice of cake, or occasional diet coke. These moments of pleasure are as good for our soul as being healthy and careful, and you'll find over time the things you crave will change, and you'll be after the bad foods less and less.

So go ahead! Grab another of these...

Living a healthy lifestyle is empowering and rejuvenating. We put it second to so much, and we shouldn't. When you nurture your soul, other things tend to fall into place after it - a domino effect on your outlook on life.

I hope I've helped to remind you of all the benefits of looking after yourself, and a massive good luck to every one of you who gives this a go!

With love,
Hamilton