If there is one thing that you learn really quickly in the kitchen, it's the stay hydrated. The first thing you should do before you even open your knives is to get a glass of water. You never know when you are going to have another free moment to go and snag one.
A few weeks ago, Crystal Light and I started following each other on Twitter and they sent over some great hydration tips from their Crystal Light Pure Spokesperson, Molly Kimball RD. I immediately knew I wanted to share these tips with you guys and share how much I love their new product. I've been a fan of Crystal Light since I was a kid (Strawberry Kiwi is my favorite) and I'm pretty excited they have a healthier version that doesn't taste like fake sugar. I've tasted a lot of crazy things at culinary school, but one of the worst tastes out there is artificial sweeteners. They leave this awful taste in my mouth and is a main reason I've resorted to just plain water. But now, with Strawberry Kiwi, Lemonade and Tropical Blend to choose from - my taste buds are pretty happy. There's no crappy aftertaste. It's awesome.
I've had all three samples and they all taste great. The packets seem to be a little bit bigger than your tradition grab-and-go drink packets, but I like it because who really has an 8 oz. water bottle?
Lastly, I do want to share with you the hydration tips that they shared with me. If you have some of your own, please share - I'd love to hear them.
We can’t actually tell how well we’re hydrated by how thirsty we feel. For many of us, by the time we start to feel thirsty, we’re already dehydrated, but just how much water is enough when it comes to staying hydrated? Keep a running tally of how much fluid you’re getting and aim for half of your body weight in ounces of fluid per day, plus an extra 16 ounces for every pound of sweat lost during exercise or work in the heat.
Want to drink water to stay hydrated, but hate the boring taste? Add the flavor you want and none of what you don’t by sipping on naturally sweetened Crystal Light Pure<http://www.facebook.com/
3. Don’t Forget about Food
Staying well-hydrated is essential for maintaining optimal energy levels, preventing muscle cramping and headaches, and more serious issues like heatstroke. But that doesn’t mean you have to force down gallons of water or bottles of sugary sports drinks. Any type of alcohol-free beverage can count toward your fluid intake – and even some foods! Some of the top electrolyte-rich, hydrating foods include all types of fresh fruit, soups like gazpacho and Greek yogurt.
4. Watch the Caffeine
For years, the widely-held belief was that caffeinated beverages were dehydrating. An abundance of research has proven otherwise, however. The amount of caffeine typically found in standard servings of tea, coffee, and soft drinks appears to have no diuretic effect, meaning that these beverages don’t cause us to lose more fluid than they provide. But remember that you don’t want the majority of your fluids to come from caffeinated drinks since most health organizations recommend we limit our caffeine intake. Instead, try to vary what you’re drinking.
