A Watermelon Slushy To Celebrate Summer

A Watermelon Slushy To Celebrate Summer

A simple, refreshing summer drink to keep you hydrated and glowing! And it's cleanse-approved!

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Almost every function in our body, from digestion, to brain function, and respiratory health all rely on sufficient water to work properly. 60% of our body is comprised of water!

Many find it less than enticing to reach for the plain stuff day in and day out, so we’ve come up with this simple, refreshing watermelon slushy to help keep you hydrated!

Stay Hydrated for Beautiful Skin

Your skin functions like any organ in your body. It is made up of cells, which require water to function optimally. Dehydration can result in a slew of skin problems from acne to wrinkles. Water is crucial for the release of toxins, particularly through our digestive tract, and keeping your intake high will help prevent skin breakouts. Water also increases circulation by making your blood flow through your veins and arteries with ease. This helps ensure that your heart is not working in overdrive to move your blood throughout the body and encourages blood flow to your skin, giving you a healthy glow.

Hydration Helps You Maintain a Healthy Weight

By the time you feel thirsty, you are typically already dehydrated. Just a 2-3% loss of water results in a slow down of organ function, and by result a decreased metabolism. When we become dehydrated our kidneys are one of the first organs to slow down, and in turn, the liver picks up the slack. The liver is responsible for the breakdown of fat in our body, and when it is overwhelmed by the work of the kidneys our fat-burning mechanism is impacted as well.

Our brain is also hugely reliant on water (it is made up of about 80%) and when we experience water loss our cognitive function decreases. This results in a feeling of low energy and exhaustion – causing us to move less and crave food (particularly simple carbohydrates and sugar, which our body views as quick energy). When regular dehydration is causing us to lose energy, it can result in weight gain over time. Overall, that 2-3% loss of water can result in a similar decrease in calories burned per day. Over a year this can be a 4-6 pound weight gain – just from not consuming enough water.

Hydration Can Come From Our Food

It’s not by an error that during hotter months, water-dense produce comes into season. Think of juicy pineapple, mango, greens and, of course, watermelon. Watermelon’s name is not by coincidence – it contains over ninety-two percent water, which is why this recipe doesn’t call for any liquid. Watermelon contains many micronutrients as well (watermelon has more potassium than a banana!) which is a crucial mineral for regulating fluids in the body.

🍉 Serves 2 🍉

Ingredients:

1/2 watermelon (2-2.5 lbs)
1/4 cup fresh mint
1 lime, juiced
2 cups ice
Optional: 1-2 tablespoons chia seeds

Directions:

Step One: Cut watermelon in half and scoop out meat from one side. Remove stems from mint leaves and discard. Cut lime in half and juice both sides.

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Step Two: Add all ingredients to the blender and blend until smooth.

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Step Three: Serve immediately!

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Recipe and photography by Kaitlyn Noble