No products in the cart.: £0.00
8 Ways to drink yourself beautiful
Here are ‘8 Ways to drink yourself beautiful’ because drinking water alone can be pretty boring and water doesn’t have some essential vitamins and minerals for glowing skin. Herbal teas can be great for your health as they often contain a cocktail of healthy vitamins, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. If you too are bored of drinking boring water or want to reduce your sugar intake without sacrificing your taste buds, this is the blog for you.
Disclaimer: Please note that nothing I say should be treated as medical advice. Please talk to a medical professional before consuming any of these drinks. A medical herbalist should be consulted if you have underlying medical issues or are on long-term medication.
Water – Any time of day.
Good old water, we are made up of 60% of it and we can not live without it. I like to kickstart my day and digestion with a glass of room-temperature water. Room temperature water is easier to digest in the body and the ideal way to repair any damage caused by the 8hr period of dehydration caused by sleep. Water, no matter the temperature, water hydrates the body and is good for health and beauty. It plumps the skin, flushes organs or toxins, lubricates your waste for easier evacuation and keeps the brain good.
You can surcharge your water by adding fresh fruit for flavour or a pinch of pink Himalayan or sea salt for a mineral boost. The salts add essential minerals that help the water be more proactive in the body rather than as a flush. You’ll notice that you pee less when you add mineral salt to your water.
Caution: Do not add salt to taste, only add a small pinch and be mindful of overloading on sodium.
Probiotic Drinks – Morning or evening
Probiotic drinks are an easy way to boost gut health and they carry good bacteria. These are drinks used to help to increase gut health. Recent science has shown that the key to good health is held in our intestines and the more good bacteria we have there, the better our overall health. Though usually cow milk-based, there are some vegan options that provide the same level of goodness. I did come across an article that made me wonder if the benefits are all in my head. Take a look here and make up your own mind.
Green Tea – Morning
Rich in antioxidants and polyphenols (anti-inflammatory agents), green tea is said to boost general wellness and provide the skin with many beauty benefits. Green tea also has a small amount of caffeine which gives you a gentle perk, unlike the aggressive jitters associated with coffee. I prefer to drink it in the AM because caffeine affects my sleep no matter how small the amount.
Coffee – Morning
In Kenya and Ethiopia, coffee has a long history as part of ritual drinking and is used in ceremonies, celebrations and as part of community building. It is so ingrained in the community that coffee drinking has its own name The Ethiopian coffee ceremony. Coffee is drunk as part of community bonding and the process is beautiful to watch. In the West, coffee is one of the biggest consumed stimulates and is readily available in most supermarkets and corner shops. Did you know that coffee is a natural deodorising and is wonderful as a gardener’s soap? We have a popular unscented bar called Coffee Morning, which contains real coffee granules and is wonderful in the garden, kitchen and bathroom. The granules exfoliate the skin removing dirt, odour and dead skin whilst the caffeine content tightens and tones the skin.
Coffee contains a lot of antioxidants, which fight against free radicals ( free radicals negatively affect DNA and trigger several human diseases). Along with potent antioxidative properties, coffee is also a wonderful natural laxative and very effectively aids bowel evacuation. The caffeine content makes it a really good natural pre-workout drink. Be cautious though sis, you don’t want to get caught mid-workout at the gym, poop before you leave babe, trust me on this.
Caution: Consumed in moderation coffee gives a great energy boost, yet, excessive consumption can lead to insomnia and restlessness, you’ll get the jitters and that’s no fun.
Cerassee (Bitter Melon)
Cerassee tea is a type of bush tea — a tea made from local plants. It’s typically made by boiling fresh leaves and stems of a wild variety of Momordica charantia, or bitter melon plant, or cerasee as known in Jamaica. In many other parts of the Caribbean, this tea is used to treat many ailments, ranging from high blood pressure to constipation. The tea is also reported to have detoxifying and purifying properties, which is why some people use it in an effort to rid their bodies of toxins especially concerning alcohol.
Cerassee has a very bitter taste. A little like boiled rotten eggs, if that is your thing, great go ham. If not, you can try adding honey or sugar but please be warned these sweeteners will not alter the taste, no matter the amount you add. It really is a cause of drawing up your big girl panties and drinking the damn drink. I like to drink it cool, almost like a shot (down it to get it over with).
Caution: Ceracee has been linked to liver damage so drink in moderation (every other day max) and seek medical advice from a medical herbalist.
Rooibos Tea – Any time
Favoured by our South African cousins, and is rich in unique and potent anti-oxidants polyphenols and aspalathin. These protective plant compounds have been shown to help protect against the free radical damage that leads to serious health conditions. The high flavonol content of rooibos tea also supports the cardiovascular system because of its anti-inflammatory properties.
Caffeine-free, this tea can be drunk hot or cold, milked or without, with a slice of lemon or all on its own. It is absolutely delicious I like it with honey and powdered milk and if I am feeling particularly spicy, I add a little condensed milk. This tea is ultra-calming and soothes the senses and is good for your health (before all the animal fat and sugar). A great mid-afternoon or evening drink, it is a good choice for the early stages of your bedtime routine.
Peppermint – Anytime
Peppermint tea contains rosmarinic acid, which has been shown to reduce allergy symptoms, such as sneezing and a runny nose. What’s more, peppermint contains muscle relaxants, which makes it another great option as a relaxing bedtime beverage. Have a shower with a relaxing soap like our Field of Dreams bar or go unscented with our Plain Jane. Then, have yourself a nice cup of peppermint tea to close out the night.
For menstruating ladies, peppermint tea may reduce the intensity and length of menstrual cramps since peppermint has been shown to prevent muscle contractions. Peppermint tea also sweetens the breath and kills germs in the mouth, a good way to starve off morning breath.
Chamomile – Evening
Chamomile tea is widely thought to help people relax and fall asleep. It is famed to have a calming and soothing effect on the senses that encourages a good night of restful sleep. Your stretches and deep breathing exercise whilst you hydrate with chamomile for a really nice way to end your day. I like to drink it whilst I read, just before lights out.
Red Wine – Evening
Long gone are my days of tequila shots, now if you fancy a tipple just because I like a glass of red wine. Red wine is a good choice as it is enriched with powerful antioxidants and feels like the healthiest alcoholic choice. We’ve all heard the adage, “The darker the berry the sweeter the juice” and red wine exemplifies that perfectly. The dark grapes pressed to make the wine are higher in antioxidants like resveratrol, epicatechin, catechin, and proanthocyanidins. Of these, resveratrol and proanthocyanidins are mainly responsible for keeping you healthy. Red wine has also been found to reduce bad cholesterols, help with memory and keep you trim. So cheers to you girl.
Disclaimer: Excessive alcohol consumption isn’t healthy and can be very detrimental to your health. Seek advice if you feel you no longer have control over your consumption of alcohol.
And there you have it, all the drinks I drink in a day/week to keep me young, strong and robust (mostly). Have a great day and remember to always…
Be good to yourself.
Mazel
