Farmer's Weekly (South Africa)
Holistic Health
Even when the temperature is high, many people don’t drink enough water to make up for fluids lost through perspiration.
Thirst is an instinctive reaction after exercise, especially when the weather is hot. But sitting in an air-conditioned office all day tends to suppress this natural instinct. Drinking enough uncontaminated water is vital for every system in the body, and substituting water with endless cups of tea and coffee do not make up for it.
When you exercise and perspire, you naturally crave the taste of cool, fresh water. But when you do not move much, the taste of water is not always appealing. A practical tip to help you drink more water is to pour a small amount of unsweetened fruit juice into a tall glass and top it up with cold water and ice cubes. Before you realise it, you will have drunk all the water.
It is so filling that you may find that a ‘snack attack’ is suppressed until the next mealtime. This is especially helpful if you are trying to lose weight.
Cold rooibos tea is also refreshing; you can even add fruit juice to it to sweeten it slightly. Those of us who grew up with rooibos tea may look down on it, while the rest of the world is excited about its taste and its many health benefits. Unlike regular black tea, it contains almost no caffeine or tannins, and contains minerals and potent antioxidants such as quercetin and luteolin, which can help prevent diabetes and cancer.
• Johanita Louw has had a lifelong interest in holistic nutrition. Email her at farmersweekly@caxton.co.za. Subject line: Holistic health.