In today’s toxic world, if you want to live life to its fullest then you need to be making healthy choices in many areas of your life. Some of the simplest ways to do this is to make sure that you are eating whole foods and drinking healthy beverages, ones that aren’t over-processed, denatured, full of sugar and loaded with toxic-chemicals or pesticides.
When you supply your body with what it needs it will respond in positive ways. It really is very simple, it just isn’t necessarily easy. We’re all creatures of habit and most of us find it difficult to break old patterns especially ones that have been ingrained in us for many years, but it can be done. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you have trouble giving up sugar. Did you know that studies show that sugar is just as addictive as cocaine… yep, that’s right! No wonder you have a hard time giving up sugar and all the processed foods that contain them. Just start with small steps, and be consistent in implementing what you learn along the way and over time these steps should help you feel healthier and more energized. Just keep in mind that eventually all the small, positive changes will multiply and before you know it will impact your life in amazing and wonderful ways.
Drinking water is one of the BEST things you can do for your body but if you’re like me, you find it hard to drink as much as you should. Most of us don’t drink enough of it. They say when you “feel” thirsty you’re already dehydrated. According to the Mayo Clinic the average adult loses approximately 10 cups of water a day just by urinating, breathing, and sweating and should be drinking a minimum of 6-8 glasses of water a day.
I know I do!
Oh, and by the way, sorry but all those sodas, cups of tea or coffee probably contain caffeine and don’t count, and can actually contribute to dehydration. Besides being full of caffeine there are lots of other reasons to avoid drinking sodas too… whether regular or sugar free versions. I avoid artificial sweeteners such as aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal), sucralose (Splenda), saccharin (Sweet’N Low) along with others like the plague. There’s enough scientific evidence about the dangers of consuming artificial sweeteners and hundreds of studies proving their damaging effects to fill an entire book. Click here to learn more about the safety concerns surrounding this issue.
Increasing the amount of water doesn’t have to be boring and tasteless though either. Fortuntely there are other healthy ways of using natural ingredients to flavor your water and I think you’ll find that children love them too!
One of my favorites is making a natural, healthy essential oil-infused version of pink lemonade sweetened with liquid Stevia. It’s very refreshing and a great tool to help you kick the soda habit that you may be addicted to. You not only get a great tasting alternative to the sugar laden products but also receive all the benefits that Young Living essential oils have to offer.
I usually make it one glass at a time, or will prepare it in empty NingXia Red bottles but you can certainly make a whole pitcher of it if so desired.
PINK LEMONADE
Directions
–Fresh lemon juice including the pulp– (juice of 1/2 lemon for a glass, juice of 1 lemon for empty bottle of NingXia Red, or juice from 2-3 lemons if making a full pitcher.)
–Knudsen’s UNSWEETENED Cranberry Juice Concentrate– add just enough drops to turn water a very light pink
–Young Living’s Vitality Lemon essential oil– begin with 1 drop and gradually, over time, work your way up
–Liquid Sweet Leaf Stevia– (it’s the ONLY brand I would consider using)
–Water
OTHER VARIATIONS
*Try Vitality Lemon essential oil and NingXia Red – I LOVE this combination!
*Substitute orange juice and YL’s Vitality orange essential oil in the lemonade recipe above… try adding Vanilla flavoriing for “Dreamsicle” like taste.
*Substitute lime juice and YL’s Vitality lime essential oil in the lemonade recipe above.
*Try a variation of fruits… lemon, orange, lime along with YL’s Vitality Citrus Fresh
A COUPLE OF IMPORTANT NOTES
First, Young Living essential oils are the ONLY oils that I would ever consider ingesting because I’m assured of their purity. Please don’t attempt this with other brands.
Before taking GRAS (Generally Regarded as Safe) essential oils internally, test your reactions by diluting one drop of essential oil in one teaspoon of an oil-soluble liquid like blue agave, olive oil, or rice milk. If you intend to consume more than a few drops of diluted essential oil per day, we recommend first consulting a health professional. Be aware that reactions to essential oils, both topically and orally, can be delayed as long as 2-3 days, so go slowly and cautiously until you know how you react to them. Keep in mind that essential oils are VERY concentrated and potent. If you are new to essential oils start out slowly, gradually increasing the amount slowly over time.
When using essential oils it’s very important to DOUBLE YOUR INTAKE OF WATER, to assist the body in flushing out toxins being released by it. Each morning I fill 3 empty NingXia Red bottles with water and then add 2-3 drops of various oils to each bottle. I’ll make one with Lemon oil, one with Slique Essence and the 3rd with either orange, lime, tangerine, grapefruit, peppermint, or Jade lemon, and then drink one of them upon rising. It makes it really easy for me to track exactly how much water I’m drinking each day.
