Staying Hydrated During the Winter

(Photo caption: Photo taken from www.fimfiction.net)

Staying Hydrated During the Winter

By Michaelle Fields

I spent of good chunk of time on the island of Jamaica this past Summer. It is my mother’s homeland, so undoubtedly there were a ton of sights, sounds, and experiences I discovered and treasured while there. Of the many, many things that raised my awareness in contrast to the States, I somehow noticed how much drinking water and water-rich foods were easily available anytime, anywhere – via coconuts, citrus fruits, and all types of exotic melons and berries I had never seen or heard of before. Now at home, I realize the importance of water more than ever before (especially during these colder, drier months of the year), in avoiding dehydration, exhaustion, muscle fatigue, cramps, colds, flus, and more! So this Fall & Winter, I have made a personal pledge to incorporate water and water-based foods into every single meal and snack each and every day. And the good news is: There are a whole garden variety of options AVAILABLE, MAKING IT EASY TO DO! Juicy Fruits Fruits like strawberries, grapefruits, and melons, for example, deliver more than  90% water! Peaches, plums, pineapples, oranges, apples, pears, blueberries, raspberries, cranberries, cherries, and grapes deliver more than 80%! With the addition of essential vitamins and minerals too, these are worth remembering on my grocery list each week! Fresh Vegetables Most fresh vegetables take under 5 minutes to chop, prepare, or otherwise create as a side dish, add to soup or salad, or blend in a smoothie— like, kale, spinach, broccoli, zucchini, cucumber, celery, beets, carrots, cabbage. And never mind the popularity contest about recipes and machines, smoothies are great options simply because they are easy to make and your body absorbs the water, vitamins, and minerals quickly and directly! Doesn’t get much better than that! Specialty Items Woops, yes it does! Coconut water is my most favorite! I’ve seen coconut water widely marketed as “Nature’s Sports Drink.” And that’s because it’s richly packed with 95% water, the potassium of 4 bananas, electrolytes, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals beyond imagination. So when it comes to grabbing quick, easy, thorough, and delicious hydration, this is my “go-to!” Similarly, coconut oil is a great hydrator on skin and hair  as well. So as Winter nears, temperatures drop, winds increase, and the air dries, don’t forget the H20! It may not be all around us hanging from trees or on every corner. But it is available if we seek it, in fresh and fulfilling form, providing the bounty of natural sugar, amino acid, mineral salt, and vitamin benefits too!   Source(s) Fooducate (2012, September 17). Top Fruits By Water Content [Blog Post]. Retrieved from http://blog.fooducate.com/2012/09/17/water-content-fruit/  Healthy Eating. List of Fruits & Vegetable With a High Water Content [Blog Post]. Retrieved from http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/list-fruits-vegetable-high-water-content-8958.html. About Michaelle Fields  A new member of Black Girls RUN!, Michaelle Fields is a school materials sales consultant; a certified physical fitness trainer and Spinning® instructor; and founder of California Radiance, a health and beauty brand taking a fresh and balanced approach to natural skin and personal care. You are invited to follow her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/californiaradiance) and on Instagram (@californiaradiance)!

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