During the hot summer months, as the temperature rises, it’s easy to get overheated. And, if that happens, it can negatively impact your health.
If you don’t hydrate and cool your system, you run the risk of dehydration, fainting, headaches, dizziness, electrolyte imbalance, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Yikes!
So, what you can you do?
If you reach for an excessively sweet sugary soft drink, that can make you feel even thirstier and less hydrated. The high sugar and caffeine content in most soft drinks, pulls water from your cells to process the sugar and caffeine.
Instead, here is my go-to summer drink to cool and hydrate your body naturally and deliciously: Hydrating Hibiscus and Rose Iced Tea
Hibiscus flowers have long been used in Ayurvedic medicine and in Middle Eastern cultures to make a sour cooling tea in the summer. According to herbalist, Matthew Wood, “the sour fruit acids almost invariably reduce heat, excitation, or overstimulation of the cells.”[1]
And, rose is a classic remedy for cooling inflammation and heat. You can use rose petals or the rose hips (fruit of the rose), in this recipe.
This summer cooler is sour, like lemonade. I like to sweeten it with a little bit of honey.
Pour yourself a tall glass and enjoy!
- ½ cup dried hibiscus flowers
- ¼ cup rose petals or rosehips
- hot water
- ⅓ cup – ½ cup raw local honey (or other sugar)
- Mint
- Place hibiscus and rose in a large glass mason jar (64 ounces).
- Add boiling water
- Stir in honey and steep 45 minutes
- Strain the liquid from the herbs
- Pour over ice
- Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint
[1] The Practice of Traditional Western Herbalism, Matthew Wood, North Atlantic Books, 2004, pg. 138
Andrea Beaman is an internationally renowned Holistic Health Coach, Natural Foods Chef, Speaker, Herbalist and best-selling author who helps people feel happier, healthier and in control of their health. She was named one of the top 100 Most Influential Health and Fitness Experts, is the recipient of the Natural Gourmet Institute’s Award for Excellence in Health-Supportive Education and a Health Leadership award from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Since 1999, Andrea has been teaching people how to harness their body’s own preventative and healing powers using food, herbal remedies and alternative medicine.
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