Toast to Good Health with Lemon Cucumber Water
~a perfect combination~
When I open the fridge and see this pitcher of lemon cucumber water, the first word in my mind is refreshing. After some research, I’ve discovered that my new beverage of choice is not only refreshing, it provides various health advantages, as well. Here are a few of the benefits to think about when you prepare and drink your lemon cucumber water.
- Lemons and cucumbers are natural immunity boosters due to their elements of vitamin C and antioxidants. This is a perfect thirst quenching drink to protect against disease.
- Cucumbers contain a mineral known as silica which is often referred to as the anti-aging secret. Silica promotes the formation of collagen and elastin, proteins needed for strength and elasticity of tissues.
- Since lemons and cucumbers are alkaline promoting foods, a pH level will be better balanced to provide optimal health.
- When drinking a lemon cucumber beverage first thing in the morning, you can count on more energy due to the vitamins and nutrients.
- Many claim that a beverage with lemons and cucumbers reduces menopausal symptoms. Cucumbers are natural diuretics that will combat that bloated feeling. Hot flashes may also be reduces, as well.
- The citrus flavonoids of lemons aid in digestion and liver cleansing.
The Commonality of Writing and Cooking
Writing and cooking, both of which I’ve come to realize have similar elements, are two of my favorite activities whenever time permits. Whether creating a recipe or writing an article, blog, or even a book, each necessitates the proper ingredients for an optimal outcome. Preparing a special entrée takes just the right ingredients which will complement each other in flavor. Too much of one spice and not enough of another can change the whole dynamic of the dish being prepared. When writing, the words are my ingredients that come together for my intended audience. That audience of prepared dishes or writings will differ, so recipes or words will also vary. For instance, a romance story wouldn’t be written with the intention of children reading the material. Just like chicken nuggets and boxed macaroni and cheese wouldn’t be prepared for an adult dinner party.
Just as writers find pleasure in the art of writing, those who take pride in cooking are doing so for the art and pleasure it brings, and the joy of sharing their prize creation. Each are done with a labor of love, and often come with critique of others which will be used to polish future endeavors.
Just as writers find pleasure in the art of writing, those who take pride in cooking are doing so for the art and pleasure it brings, and the joy of sharing their prize creation. Each are done with a labor of love, and often come with critique of others which will be used to polish future endeavors.
Do you have family dinners?
Today’s family lifestyles of longer work hours for moms and dads and excessive after school activities for children have given way to the drive-thru meals eaten in the car between one place and another. Significant conversation is minimal while eye contact is nil as many continue to live their lives on the go. The mandatory dinner presence so many of us experienced from our own childhood remains only a memory and rarely practiced as part of contemporary lifestyles.
Is the family dinner time old fashioned? Personally, I tend to think not. My boys are grown, now. They are either in school, or have jobs of their own. At this point of our lives, we are not always together for dinner. However, since my boys have grown up in a household where everyone was sitting at the kitchen table by 6pm, they have come to value such gatherings when the opportunity comes about now that they are older and not around as much. In fact, there is an obvious contentment when we manage such a family dinner. It feels right, feels like home. As they anxiously dig into whatever the chow may be, someone will often comment, “Hey, we’re all together,” which brings a profound smile of acknowledgment by all before conversation is in full gear as everyone catches up with each other.
Finding time to eat as a family when chasing to dance class or basketball practice after school gives the family a chance to slow down and take a breather from a hectic afternoon. Consistent family dinnertime will create a routine for children. Such stability is important for kids. Whether it is hot dogs, pizza, or filet mignon being served, the food on the table has no importance in comparison to the shared conversation about the school day, friends, work, etc. At the same time, an interest and concern for other family members is naturally developed. We all wish our children to grow up with good family memories and values which can be passed down to their own children. And, it is the good memories which will turn a house into a home.
Is the family dinner time old fashioned? Personally, I tend to think not. My boys are grown, now. They are either in school, or have jobs of their own. At this point of our lives, we are not always together for dinner. However, since my boys have grown up in a household where everyone was sitting at the kitchen table by 6pm, they have come to value such gatherings when the opportunity comes about now that they are older and not around as much. In fact, there is an obvious contentment when we manage such a family dinner. It feels right, feels like home. As they anxiously dig into whatever the chow may be, someone will often comment, “Hey, we’re all together,” which brings a profound smile of acknowledgment by all before conversation is in full gear as everyone catches up with each other.
Finding time to eat as a family when chasing to dance class or basketball practice after school gives the family a chance to slow down and take a breather from a hectic afternoon. Consistent family dinnertime will create a routine for children. Such stability is important for kids. Whether it is hot dogs, pizza, or filet mignon being served, the food on the table has no importance in comparison to the shared conversation about the school day, friends, work, etc. At the same time, an interest and concern for other family members is naturally developed. We all wish our children to grow up with good family memories and values which can be passed down to their own children. And, it is the good memories which will turn a house into a home.
Are you drinking you 8 glasses of water a day?
How often do you feel listless at about the 3pm hour? You’d give anything to close your eyes and take a nap. However, you’re either at the office, or on the go with the kids, Taking that afternoon snooze is nearly impossible. What many do not realize is that your daytime weariness may be something as simple as needing hydration. Drinking enough water over the course of a day is essential to our health for many reasons.
- Focus and concentration improves when a sufficient amount of water is consumed.
- Energy levels are enhanced. A glass of water during the mid-afternoon slump will often relieve fatigue.
- Having water before a meal helps prevent overeating. It will also boost metabolism and aid in flushing fat away.
- Skin has a healthier glow when drinking enough water. It helps prevent wrinkles and resolves dry skin problems
- Toxins are flushed from the body, lowering the risk of urinary tract infections or kidney stones.
- As an aid with food digestion, water benefits the digestive systems and will often relieve constipation.
- Water is imperative for all body systems, and is also a natural immunity booster.
- Often times, enough water will prevent a headache, or other bodily aches and pains.