cranberry-juiceDrink your way to better health!

Water – I cannot stress enough how important drinking water throughout the day is. It will not only make you feel better, it is key in all-over health and should be part of every weight loss strategy. Drinking water helps maintain the balance of body fluids. Our body is composed of about 60% water.

Drinking an ample amount of water will help energize your muscles, aid in detoxing the liver (our main fat-burning organ), keep your bowels regular and prevent kidney stones. Dehydration makes your skin very dry so drinking water will even change the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles!

So, how much do water do you need? The Institute of Medicine determined that an adequate daily beverage intake for men is roughly 3 liters (about 13 cups) and 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) for women. This count should include water and any of the below beverages EXCEPT coffee and wine. Sorry.

Here are just a few drinks with benefits:

Green Tea – Drinking a cup of this healthy beverage does more than … LCM post It can also help you avoid that dreaded mid-life bulge! Penn State did a study that giving a green tea compound to obese mice actually slowed down their weight loss! Add a little mint to help relax sore and stiff muscles. Mint is also great for digestion.

MMMM… My favorite this time of year – sun tea!

Lemonade – Lemons are a great detoxing fruit and are a great way to burn fat! Fruits high in vitamin C help to burn off body fat so the fat can be easily flushed out of your body. Make sure and make your own using fresh lemon juice with Stevia or natural sweeteners. For extra benefits add other citrus fruits!

Cranberry Juice – Drinking cranberry juice does more than fight off urinary tract infections – It’s great for detoxing the liver and should be included in any weight loss diet. Make sure you only buy 100% cranberry juice with no additives including (hidden) sugars. Mix with water and stevia and enjoy throughout the day. For extra benefits add some fresh lemon or orange juice! (Read More)

Red Wine – Since Jesus turned water into wine, I always include it in my list of must-have beverages. Wedding or poolside!

Numerous studies have showed that red wine can offer numerous health benefits and also shows protection from the sun’s damaging rays. Carol… living in Arizona… Oh yes, this makes perfect sense to me. On a hot summer day, I love to enjoy “wine punch” – Red wine mixed with fresh citrus fruit juices served over ice. Of course, drink wine moderation – I can’t give you the go ahead to drink wine poolside all afternoon.

Coffee – Known to beat brain fog, this caffeinated beverage raises levels of a hormone linked to improved memory and energy. I’m not a coffee drinker, but know my coffee friends are giving me a thumbs up right now!

Important Note: Drink coffee and wine in moderation – but drink as much of the other beverages as your little heart desires.