Hydration Is The New High

is the Hydration New High!

Not just packed luNch but packed liquids are the Need of the day for those eNdless office schedules! be wise aNd stay healthy - keep these healthy sips at haNd oN your desk

Through all seasons, not just the blistering summer, you must spruce up your energy levels and keep your mind and body cool and focussed to optimise your potential, and not be drained out at end of day.

Today, summer in India is no longer limited to May-June. The weather is such that the heat and humidity stretches up to October across most of the country. Being cooped up in AC environs add to health woes.

Here are some easy and healthy drinks to bottle up for your daily office outing. Remember, the thumb rule is: Drink lots of fluids at regular intervals, cold when it is hot and humid and hot drinks when it starts to get chilly.

Gazpacho This perfect cold soup is delicious and refreshing. Cooked with healthy ingredients such as bell

peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers, it is light on the stomach and delightfully flavourful. A perfect office lunchtime pick me up packed with anti-oxidants, Vitamin C and minerals to give you energy.

cucumber juice: The best low calorie hydrator that is not just about taste and flavour but ultimate lightness of being. Low on fats, high on vitamins, folate and potassium, it helps in weight loss, boosts metabolism and props up the immune system. For added flavour, put in some basil leaves in the bottle before pouring in this cold juice. Add ice, if liked.

coconut water The latest super food, coconut water should be on top of your list of drinks to stay hydrated healthily. It is the best natural thirst-quencher and adds a glow to your skin. It is rich in minerals such as zinc, magnesium, calcium, potassium and sodium, and has cancer-fighting and antiageing properties as well. A dash of lemon enhances the taste.

HOT DRINKS hot LemonaDe No need to limit hot water with lemon juice to early mornings. You could sip this weight loss-pro drink through the day as lemon juice mixed with water has an alkalizing effect on the body. This helps neutralize the acid in your stomach. One tablespoon of fresh lemon juice is good to go for

eight ounces of water. It makes for a refreshing ‘tea’ without any nicotine (add herbal tea to your drink, if liked). It cleanses the liver and flushes out waste and toxins. The juice also aids digestion.

jeerachai This one takes full marks for innovation and super health

Quick Sip Recipe • Use a vegetable peeler to peel the rind from the orange. Avoid the pith. • Let the rind dry at room temperature for a day. Grind finely. • In a cup add the rind, green tea bag and fresh rose petals. Pour boiling water on this and let the tea steep for 10 minutes. • Strain, add honey and pour it into your insulated water bottle for healthy and de-stressing tea breaks in office.

benefits. All you need to do is boil a tsp of cumin seeds in two glasses of water for 10 minutes, add lemon juice and kala namak to it and sieve it into an insulated bottle and sip through the day. It is not just healthy and peppy but also flavourful, refreshing and delicious. Keeps you warm on a winter day, helps cut the fat and acts as a natural cleanser too.

Green tea Green tea may make you look the other way but here’s a recipe that is likely to bring you office cheer, good health and an inclination to switch to this herbal super drink. Bring two cups of water with

ginger and lemongrass to boil. Switch off the heat and steep green teabags for about 5 minutes in the brew. Remove teabags and strain; add honey. Packed with antioxidants, it helps cleansing and aids natural weight-loss.