It’s summer in LA. This typically means that a heatwave comes crashing out of nowhere and leaves us all in a miserable sweaty mess. There’s no build-up in my part of Southern California. At least not this time around. We’ve gone from a perfectly comfortable mid-70’s delight to 113 degrees of hell. Feels like the devil himself is doing squats over my house. No me gusta.
I’m not going to wax and wane poetic about what you can do to beat the heat naturally, or how to adopt your beauty routine to sweltering temps. When it comes to health and beauty in this kind of weather, I throw in the towel, accept that I am gonna be covered in a sheen of sweat from head to toe…..and then hydrate. A lot.
I can’t even begin to tell you how important it is to stay hydrated year round…but when it comes to the summer and heat….you really gotta get your drink on. And not just any drink.
Water is your best friend here. Not energy drinks (absolute crap that should be avoided at all cost anyways), not sugary drinks, not alcohol (although this can be fun in measured doses!), and not iced coffee (although this is fine as long as you don’t over do it….Lord knows I’m not giving coffee up completely!). Just water…and plenty of it.
The typical recommendation of 6-8 glasses of water a day is always a good one to follow. However, if you’re sweating more than usual, or exerting yourself in hotter than normal weather, you’ll want to drink more.
Our bodies dehydrate long before any dehydration symptoms start to become apparent….so staying hydrated from the get-go is really important. Some clues your body will start giving you when you’re dehydrated are:
- Increased thirst
- Dry lips
- Dry mouth
- Sluggishness
- Decreased urine output
- Urine is low volume and darker colored.
- Headache
- Dry skin
- Dizziness
So, you’re probably wondering why I’m even bothering to write about this…seems a given that we all drink more when it’s hot out. Sure. We may all drink more, but if we’re drinking liquids that are full of sugar, additives, and caffeine…we’re not giving our bodies a fighting chance.
Water is what our bodies really need in order to replenish what we are sweating out, and if we are continually drinking it, we won’t have to worry about dehydration. Prevention being key here, as with anything!
I know, I know….water is boring and not everyone enjoys drinking it. A lot of us have become used to drinking liquids that are flavored and a lot more fun. I get it. Although I do love a tall glass of plain cold water on a hot day, I find that I will drink more and that it’s less of a chore to do so if my water has a little kick to it.
My taste buds like to have a good time just as much as the next person…..but so many of the flavored waters sold in stores are made with lab created flavors. I’m not a fan of anything artificial, so I had to find a way to make my water taste good naturally. Enter homemade infused water and, yep, you guessed it….essential oils!
When I’m feeling especially creative, I’ll take a glass pitcher and fill it with fruit and herbs and let it steep in water overnight. By morning I have a delicious and thirst quenching beverage that is naturally alkalized…and trust me it’s super easy to finish that pitcher of water off within a couple of hours!
Some of my favorite things to use to make homemade infused waters are: lemon or lime slices, cucumber slices, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, mint leaves, orange slices, sprigs of thyme, thinly sliced jalapeños, and rosemary.
Experimenting with different combinations of these ingredients is fun and foolproof. You’re bound to find a favorite, but all of these blend together really well…so play around…nothing will taste bad. I promise!
When I’m a hurry or don’t happen to have anything I can throw into my pitcher, I just add a few drops of essential oils to flavor my water and add a little boost of health enhancers. My favorites to use are Lemon, Lime, Orange, and Grapefruit…or a mix of them for a citrusy blend. Just a couple of drops transforms my bottle of water into an extra refreshing drink in seconds…which is perfect for me because I am constantly on the go….especially in the summer.
If you opt for the essential oil route, be sure that you are using one that is food grade and safe for human consumption. Not all essential oils are created equal, and sadly, a vast majority of the ones you can buy in stores or even online are full of synthetic ingredients and fillers. Definitely not meant to be taken internally.
I can only recommend Young Living, because of its seed to seal guarantee of purity and the fact that they carry a separate Vitality line which is specifically made for human consumption and easy on the bank account. You can find my favorites here: Morayma’s Young Living
Infused water is my favorite way to stay hydrated in the summer…and all year. It’s a pleasure to drink, comes with the added health benefits of being naturally alkalized and cleansing, and even helps keep your skin naturally plumped and less wrinkle prone. A well hydrated body also means less breakouts, by the way!
My kids love plain water, but if you have a picky kiddo that doesn’t like to drink the stuff….let them make their own infused blends and they’ll get all of the health benefits of staying hydrated without the sugars and food coloring in most of the drinks “made” for kids. Alternately, have them make ice cubes with little bits of fruit in them to add to a water bottle or cup. Works like a charm.
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