Let me just start off by saying that I am no expert and that we can all learn from each other. However, there is credit in all that I have been educated in, researched, experienced, and implemented. I also think it’s important to have a team and to address health through different avenues.
So when people ask me “how can I be healthier” or “what are some simple things I can do right now”… it all starts with diet, hydration, stress management, and sleep. Yes, exercise and detox are important, but what I’ve seen is that diet exceeds most all things and is the baseline of addressing our health issues.
So the first step is food and water. What is your water consumption throughout the day? Do you drink a lot with your meals? Or in between your meals? Do you hydrate upon waking? Remember that your body has gone through several hours without food or water and the biggest priority is to rehydrate those cells!
Another question is: what are you drinking most throughout the day? Is it soda, milk, juice, electrolyte drinks, water, something else? Soda is very high in sugar. Even diet soda can be detrimental with the artificial sweeteners that they add.
What about dairy? If milk is raw, organic, high fat and even A2 genetic like goat, sheep or A2 cattle, then it’s a good option. The whole low fat dairy has been debunked and we need to realize that our bodies need good fats. Consuming A2 milk is so much easier on our digestive system. It’s the casein protein that I’m talking about here; A1 genetic cows are not a good fit for our bodies. Furthermore, if it is probiotic or raw, it is considered a whole food in that it has the enzymes that allow your body to process it well.
And then let’s talk about juice. It is quite point blank: sugar water. Think about it. When you have a whole food like an apple or a grape or an orange, you are getting pulp along with that food. In other words, you’re getting the fiber that will help to slow the absorption of the sugar which will mitigate an insulin spike and blood sugar high and low. When you remove the fiber, it is an instant shot of sugar to the body and a high insulin spike. Now, fresh vegetable juices can be good and necessary in certain contexts, but should still be considered case by case.
Finally, let’s talk about electrolyte drinks. Several of them have sugar or an artificial sweetener like aspartame or especially sucralose, also known as Splenda. You are better off making your own electrolyte drink, but there are some companies out there who do a fairly good job of providing a clean source of electrolytes.
So the best option? Water. Now you can enhance it, for instance with fruit or vegetables in the water. You can consider carbonated, just make sure to drink it through a straw since the carbonation can affect your teeth negatively. Also if you add any citrus juices to your water, consider a straw because of the acidity and its effect on your teeth’s enamel.
Now that you’ve had some time to think about your daily routine with hydration, what can you change? What can you remove or add? Comment below!
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