Drink your way to good health

We all know how important it is to get adequate nutrition during the day, but it’s just as important to consider what you drink as well as what you eat.

Your daily fluid intake provides not just your hydration requirements, but it's also a chance to increase your intake of vitamins, minerals and fibre, too.

If you're smart about your choice of drinks and how you incorporate them into your daily routine, you could boost your skin and overall health without even trying.

Making water work for you

Drinking water, whether bottled or from the tap, can help keep you well hydrated and maintain regular kidney and bowel function. If you find it difficult to remember to drink water to get to the recommended two litres a day, try keeping a refillable bottle on your desk at work or in your bag.

If you're not that fond of the taste of water, try adding fresh mint, lemon, lime or even cinnamon sticks to add a little natural flavour. Keeping a chilled bottle in the fridge at all times also makes water much more refreshing and appealing.

The right way to do juice

Did you know that certain fresh fruit and vegetables can fulfill your fluid requirements due to their high water content? That's why a fruit and vegetable juice can help with your fluid intake as well as provide you with additional vitamins, fibre and minerals. It's important, to drink a good-quality fruit and veggie juice like V8, which does not have any added sugar or high-fructose corn syrup, and has a serve of fruit and a serve of vegies in every glass.

Find the perfect milk for you

From the day we are born, milk forms the most important part of our diet. As we grow older, the benefits of milk become no less important. Cow's milk is a very good source of calcium and vitamin D, as well as being a complete source of protein. However, some people are lactose intolerant, meaning they are unable to fully digest lactose (the sugar found in milk). If this applies to you, soy milk is a nutritious high-protein option. Almond milk is also a good low-cholesterol option, but it's much lower in protein.

Get off to a good start

We all know breakfast is the most important meal of the day, however some people don' t have the time to sit down and enjoy a full spread. Drink your way to good health by preparing a smoothie to enjoy as you begin your day. They only take a few minutes to prepare and are easy to pack into a flask to take with as you dash out the door. Start by adding a glass of fruit and veggie juice to the blender, then add bananas, avocado or mango to make it thick and creamy. Alternatively, you could give your smoothie a turbo-charge of greens by adding kale, celery and spinach or make it kid-friendly with a dollop of yoghurt and some sweet berries. The sky's the limit as to what you can include.




Taste.com.au