With spring in full bloom and summer approaching in a few months, the wanderlust will gradually kick in. And, that’s when you realize that it’s time to take a break from the mundane ordeals and head on a journey of discovery – identifying new destinations, seeking out fresh experiences, embarking on a hitchhiking tour, surfing, trekking through forests, cycling, sailing, adventure sports, etc. There’s just no limit to what you can enjoy as long as you’re in good health.
What Your Body Takes When You Travel
Depending on how you choose to travel, and the activities you wish to do, it can be physically tiring. This physical tiredness comes not just because of moving around or indulging in activities such as trekking or sightseeing, but also as a result of spending long hours sitting in a plane or a car. Prolonged sitting in a fixed position can cause pressure to build up in your blood vessels, particularly your lower legs, according to the American Chiropractic Association’s (ACA) Scott Bautch. This can be dealt with by moving around at regular intervals rather than spending all those hours sitting.
But when you’re sightseeing or doing any other physical activity, you can get tired pretty soon particularly when you have the sun beating down on you. And that takes a toll on your enjoyment.
The best solution is to keep your body hydrated with fluids. There are also a number of adverse health effects if you fail to maintain the overall nutrient balance in your body. One common problem faced is hair loss, as a result of vitamin deficiency.
So now, you might be thinking that energy drinks could contain all the necessary vitamins and proteins to keep you energized and ready for more action. But I’m not really talking about Red Bull, Monster Energy or Gatorade here. Read on to find out.
Natural Energy Drinks Do More than Just Energize
Here are 3 healthy natural energy drinks that you can prepare fast. They’re free from any artificial ingredients and, beyond energizing you for your journey, can provide you long term health benefits as well.
Zen Green Tea Matcha
One of the greatest advantages of matcha energy drinks is that they’re sugar free. Matcha is one of the best natural energy sources that can revitalize you for your travels and adventures. The energy comes from the concentration of the amino acid L-Theanine.
Matcha is also a great detoxifier. It burns fat, fights cancer and is superior to the other green teas you’ll find because it packs a whole lot of nutrients.
Matcha is quite easy to prepare as well. Here are some steps on how to prepare Zen green tea matcha:
First, you need half a teaspoon of Zen green tea matcha. You also need any sliced fruit such as apple slices or lemon. Other ingredients are fresh mint leaves, water and ice.
All you need to do is dissolve the matcha in some water and make sure it has no clumps. A matcha whisk made of bamboo could be helpful here. Then top it with water, ice and sliced fruit.
After stirring, you’re ready to enjoy the refreshing concentration of ingredients. What you’ll get is a natural, sugar-free and caffeine-free energy drink to keep you alive and kicking for the rest of the journey.
Chia Fresca
Now we move to a chia seed drink. It takes just 5 minutes to prepare. What Chia Fresca (also called Iskiate by the native Mexican Tarahumara people) does, is give you endurance – something which you need while you’re trekking or just on a journey of sightseeing, and the sun relentlessly beats on your back forcing you to retire to your hotel room. The Mexican Tarahumara people are considered to be tireless long distance runners and they get their energy from this chia seed drink.
Chia seeds are natural sources of omega-3 fatty acids, even more than you’d find in salmon. They also contain a host of nutrients, including proteins, fiber, magnesium, calcium, manganese, etc. With all these nutrients and minerals in store, Chia Fresca gives you endurance and helps you reduce weight, diabetes, and heart related issues.
The ingredients you need for this are 2 tablespoons of chia seeds, 2 cups of water, a juiced lime, and a tablespoon of honey for sweetening. Honey is the only non-vegan ingredient here. If you wish to make this a fully vegan recipe, you can replace honey with agave syrup or maple.
All you need to do is mix the ingredients in a container and allow it to cool in the refrigerator for at least 2 to 3 hours. Your drink is ready. Consume it before heading out to your sightseeing spree or trekking mission, and you’ll have energy for more.
Watermelon Workout Drink
A fitness expert came up with this concoction of watermelon and coconut water, and it really does give tons of energy. So what are the health benefits of watermelon and coconut water?
Well, watermelon contains the essential amino acid L-citrulline which reduces the soreness in muscles you could experience after hectic activity including workouts. It is also packed with Vitamin A, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin C along with amino acids and antioxidants.
On the other hand, coconut water contains electrolytes that are great to re-activate and hydrate your body after a day of activity. It’s also a great detoxifier.
Mixing the two makes for a great health shot and gives you quite a boost. So let’s head to the recipe of the peculiar watermelon workout drink.
You need a cup of watermelon cubes and a cup of coconut water. Then, squeeze some lime, blend the coconut water and cubed watermelon. You can add salt if you find the watermelon not very sweet, since salt can bring out the watermelon’s sweetness. Make sure you drink it as soon as you make it, otherwise the mixed ingredients will separate.
Now that you’ve got your three naturally made energy drinks, it’s time to set aside those branded drinks you get at your department store and instead buy matcha tea, some sliced fruits, lime, some chia seeds, a watermelon and some coconut water. Make your next travel experience a healthy one.
Author Bio: Catalin is the founder of Ecommerce Platforms and Web App Meister. He blogs about matcha, Japanese lifestyle, and mindfulness at matcha-tea.com. He’s a design enthusiast and loves matcha, and is uber passionate about blockchain technology and travel.
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