BLACKBERRY & LIME CHIA FRESCA

Hello everyone! This is Rita here. The temperatures have been on the rise up here in the northern hemisphere (thanks for giving us Summer back, Australia!) and we decided it was time to share our thoughts on the importance of staying hydrated, along with a yummy idea on how to do so. We're all for drinking 2-3 litres of still water a day but there are dozens of different and delicious ways of making sure your water intake is adequate. Not only will your hydration be on point but you'll also take advantage of the health benefits provided by whichever ingredients you include. As far as this Chia Fresca goes, the benefits include healthy doses of antioxidants, minerals and vitamins from the blackberries, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids from the chia seeds and the detoxifying and alkalising properties of lime.

Now let's talk hydration. Talking about this is as important to me as it is important to anyone who might be interested in this information, since I've struggled ever since I can remember with maintaining a proper water intake. I've been on the right track and drinking approximately 3 litres of water a day for about 3 months straight now, but I was the type of gal who'd spend an entire day before realising I hadn't had a single sip of water. I don't see myself ever going back to my old ways, and you know why? Because I can finally feel first hand what I've known for ages: drinking water is CRUCIAL. Water helps remove waste from our systems, it controls body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure and it helps maintain a healthy metabolism. It even helps shed that nasty cellulite on our thighs, ladies! Most people suffer daily from symptons of dehydration and yet do not realise they simply need to down a glass of water every now and then in order to start feeling better. Have you ever felt dizzy or fatigued for no reason? Ever experienced shortness of breath or inability to stay focused? Headaches and muscle cramps? Is your mouth constantly dry, and severely so during the night? I hope my tips on how to stay hydrated will help you put an end to all of this.

Tip no. 1 Start your day by drinking at least one glass (2 cups | 500 ml.) of water as soon as you get up in the morning. This will help you flush out any toxins you may have lurking around in your system, it will fire up your metabolism and wake up your senses. As soon as you grab that first glass of water in the morning, you'll be so much more aware of how much you need to drink throughout the day. It may sound contradictory, but the more water you drink, the thirstier you will feel.

Tip no. 2 Keep your own bottle of water. It may be a plastic one, or perhaps one of those fancy refillable bottles. Take it with you wherever you go and challenge yourself to slowly drink the whole lot and then refill. Drink. Refill. Drink. And so on. Constantly sipping on water throughout the day is much better than just chugging down one whole litre at a time. Having your own bottle with you will not only make sure you can stay hydrated, sip by sip, but it will also help you keep track of how much you've drank on any particular day.

Tip no. 3 Drink even more water than usual after a particularly dehydrating meal or activity. Perhaps you're going out with friends for a few drinks or eating a meal high on gluten or refined sugars. Make sure you stay hydrated and wash away those toxins with a few extra glasses of water afterwards. As far as physical exercise goes, drinking enough water will lubricate your joints and keep your muscles hydrated and flexible. This helps prevent injuries and reduces post-workout soreness.

And last but not least, my tip no. 4 is to have fun with it! Keep things interesting with high water content foods such as melons, oranges, cucumbers and tomatoes. Or better yet, give the Blackberry & Lime Chia Fresca a go! You can make it ahead in the evening and take it to work the next morning. It's so delicious it will turn the challenge of staying hydrated into a pleasurable task.