Healthy Living

Are you actually hydrated?

May 25, 2019 by Thyme and JOY Leave a Comment

Are you actually hydrated? These 3 easy recipes are creative ways to make sure you are staying hydrated and getting enough electrolytes absorbed into your body. Find out what electrolytes are and how to make homemade hydration solutions!

A little known fact about me, I am fascinated with electrolytes. Although that may be a weird thing to be fascinated about, I gotta be me.

This fascination came about in my early 20’s when I was training for a bodybuilding show.

Yeah, that was a thing in my life and so was carrying around one of those shitty plastic gallon jugs to get my gallon of water in just like I was “supposed to”.

It’s not just bodybuilders that do this, were told to drink an insane amount of water each day when in reality, were only supposed to drink when we are thirsty which SHOULD be a healthy amount naturally if your electrolytes are in balance.

Case in point: we can drink plain water from gallon jugs and cute etsy shop cups all we want, but if we’re not consuming proper electrolytes, it’s not sticking around and it’s not hydrating jack in your body.

What are electrolytes exactly?

Electrolytes are minerals that have an electric charge. They help keep the body’s fluid in balance. Electrolyte minerals are:

Magnesium
Potassium
Sodium
Calcium

A combination of all of these is needed to literally keep that water in your body so it actually hydrates you and since the standard american diet is so poor AND the vegetables we eat may be void of these minerals because the soil is devoid of nutrients, sometimes we need to take matters into our own hands.

Oh, and if you live in the south during the summer, you’ll DEFINITELY benefit from electrolyte supplementation because walking outside for 3 minutes in July will make you sweat just as much as someone running a marathon . . . Am I right?

So how can you get electrolytes without drinking Gatorade?

Luckily there are plenty of things you can do to get proper mineral in to create a proper electrolyte balance. Here are my favorites:

Are you actually hydrated?

These recipes are creative ways to not only stay hydrated, but also to make sure you have a good supply of electrolytes in the body.

Raspberry Lemonade Electrolyte Gummies

These raspberry lemonade electrolyte gummies are a unique way to hydrate and are perfect for active adults and kids!

Homemade Electrolyte Lemonade | Easy Recipe

Making a big pitcher of electrolyte lemonade makes your hydration easy to keep on top of.

What is Sole and How to Make it

Photo Credit: wellnessmama.com

Sole water is a cost effective way to make sure you're staying hydrated.

So there you have it, my 3 favorite ways to get electrolytes and why it’s more important than we think!

Valerie Skinner is a Whole30 approved personal chef & recipe developer that bridges the gap between healthy eating and busy lives by providing simple healthy meals and recipes for you and your family.

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Apple Cider Vinegar Shot Recipe | Apple Pie Flavor

May 12, 2019 by Thyme and JOY Leave a Comment

This apple cider vinegar shot recipe tastes just like apple pie and takes the sting out of consuming apple cider vinegar. Simply mix ingredients and take a daily ACV shot to increase digestion and overall health.

There are so many foods out there that are so good for us that just taste SO BAD! Apple cider vinegar is one of those drinks that has incredible benefits if taken daily but man, it sucks to get down . . . am I right?

My dilemma is this: When the ACV is dilluted by a lot of liquid, it is easier to manage but who wants to drink an entire glass of faint tasting vinegar?

I have found a way to make this tolerable by creating this apple cider vinegar shot recipe that tastes like apple pie. There are hints of cinnamon, vanilla and apple juice mixed in with the apple cider vinegar in shot form so yo can get it all done in one . . . shot. heh . . .

What are Apple Cider Vinegar Shots?

Apple Cider Vinegar Shots are a quick 1-2 ounce shot of flavored liquid plus a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar meant to be taken quickly. Not only will the vinegar be diluted by other liquid and flavors, but it will not touch your teeth which can get damaged in the presence of vinegar.

Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar:

So why would you even want to consume Apple Cider Vinegar? There are so many benefits to taking this healing elixir including:

Lowers Blood Sugar
Kills Harmful Bacteria
Boosts Digestion: by supporting healthy gut bacteria and stomach acid production
Helps Lower Cholesterol
Helps Tame Seasonal Allergies
Gets Rid of Dandruff: when applied topically

How To Make Apple Cider Vinegar Shots:

Since this elixer can be stored in the fridge, this recipe makes 4 2oz apple cider vinegar shots:

Add 4 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar to a 16 oz mason jar.
Add in 2 oz Apple Juice, cinnamon, vanilla extract, stevia OR just use vanilla flavored stevia.
Put lid on mason jar and shake until all ingredients are combined. It does take a couple hours for cinnamon to fully dissolve into the liquid, so don’t be worried if it all stays on top at first.
Pour a 1.5-2 oz shot and enjoy!

Apple cider vinegar shot recipe will last up to one month in fridge in sealed container.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What Kind of Apple Cider Vinegar Should I Use?

The most popular brand of apple cider vinegar is the Bragg’s kind with the mother. For a while, this was the only kind that I saw in stores until ACV gained popularity.

The healthiest kind of apple cider vinegar to buy is organic with the mother. The mother is the beneficial bacteria that is used to culture the ACV. This is similar to a SCOBY with kombucha. These cultures are what makes apple cider vinegar so powerful so be sure you are buying one where it is NOT filtered out!

Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar | Organic with The Mother

Dynamic Health Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with The Mother

When Should I Drink This ACV Shot?

This is a question that could only be answered by trial and error. Some people have trouble tolerating ACV on an empty stomach and others like taking it on an empty stomach because they feel it kick starts their digestion which is known to be true!

My favorite time to take ACV shots that work for me is about 30 minutes after my first meal. This way my food has already begun digesting so there isn’t nothing in my stomach BUT there’s also not a full days worth of food to compete with. That way, I don’t get a stomach ache but I also have the benefits of digestion for the rest of the day.

Experiment and see what works for you!

Can’t I Just Take Apple Cider Vinegar Supplements or Pills?

Apple cider vinegar pills are a great alternative for those who truly can’t stand stomaching the liquid. Although these can carry some of the benefits that liquid apple cider vinegar can, it’s missing a key component.

Once something becomes freeze dried for pill consumption, it’s likely that any of the key bacteria from the mother is no longer a live product. I believe that this is the biggest benefit to consuming raw ACV in liquid form and why it is so powerful.

Still, I agree that something is better than nothing and it can’t hurt to take an apple cider vinegar supplement.

Popular Apple Cider Vinegar Pills:

Apple Cider Vinegar Shot Recipe | Apple Pie Flavor

Author: Valerie Skinner | Thyme and JOY
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 2 minutes
Yield: 4 shots
Category: drink, health drink, elixir
Method: mason jar
Cuisine: health

Print Recipe

Description

Ingredients

4 tbsp Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
6 oz Organic Apple Juice
1/4 tsp Ground Cinnamon
1 drop Vanilla Extract
10-15 drops Stevia (or vanilla flavored stevia)

Instructions

Add all ingredients to a 16 oz mason jar.
Secure lid and shake until all ingredients are fully combined.
Pour a 1.52 ounce shot and drink one shot daily.
Store in airtight container in fridge for up to 1 month.

Notes

If you are using vanilla flavored stevia, there is no need to add vanilla extract.
Cinnamon will settle into after a couple hours in fridge.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 2 oz
Calories: 21
Fat: 0
Carbohydrates: 6
Protein: 0

Keywords: apple cider shots, apple cider vinegar shots for health, acv shots, apple cider vinegar shots, shots of apple cider vinegar, apple cider vinegar detox recipe, detox with apple cider vinegar, apple cider vinegar shot recipe

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Check out my Podcast: Food Conversations

Email me: thymeandjoy@gmail.com

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Food Freedom in Disney World

November 6, 2018 by Thyme and JOY 2 Comments

Find out how I was able to stay balanced and practice food freedom during the food and wine festival in Disney World.

One morning I woke up and had an epiphany. I ran to the kitchen with tears in my eyes to tell my husband how excited I was to be able to eat whatever I want on our vacation to Disney World. The poor guy was a little confused but quickly realized what I went through to get that moment of clarity.

A week prior to that moment, I had a major breakdown. I had hit diet rock bottom after trying so hard to lose weight by fasting and doing strict keto at the same time for months straight. My body and my mind were not happy. Everything started slowly crumbling around my as I was moody all the time and my hair just kept on falling out in chunks.

Rock bottom for me was when I realized that it was MORE scary to stay on or go on another diet, reset or way of eating than it was to just let it all go and trust my body and so that’s what I did. For 2+ months I was in a different kind of storm where I took on the challenge of weight gain, shaky trust with my body and not knowing which way was up when it came to food. Battling through that, even when I felt like I needed to just do the easy thing and restrict was POWERFUL in my pursuit to re-building my foundation now months later where I fully practice the “Val Way of Eating”.

During the shit storm of strict dieting, I often thought about our upcoming vacation. Since we planned to go during the food and wine festival I was SO excited but also terrified. Does this mean I would miss out on trying things I otherwise NEVER would for the sake of losing weight that nobody would notice anyway? It sounds sad, but this thought ruminated in my head along with the research I did about being low carb in Disney. I get and respect those for following that way of eating during vacation, but it’s just not for me. No wonder I was in tears when I realized that everything was back on the table so to speak.

Food Freedom in Disney World

I decided I wouldn’t restrict anything even if it had negative consequences on my body. Just in doing this, it opened up a world of food (literally) for me to even THINK about. Since I am not allergic to anything I was willing to take on body discomfort for the sake of experience.

What was WORTH IT was based on a few different things:

Was it something I can’t find at any restaurant back home?
Was it something I can easily make or re-create as a chef?
Was it truly unique and were we BOTH excited to try it?

We expended a LOT of energy: On average, we both walked about 10 miles per day which was INSANE. Because your adrenaline is pumping from excitement, you don’t really even realize how much your moving which is why I wanted to bring my Fitbit. We were constantly surprised at how hungry we were even with eating so much through the day but funny enough, the day we didn’t move as much, we were MUCH less hungry. Interesting how that works, huh?

I changed my clothes to feel good about myself: On my IG stories that week, I went through a few different outfit changes. There were some days I planned to wear things that I didn’t feel comfortable in once I put them on. Instead of forcing myself to wear these things, I made a choice to wear what made me feel good that wouldn’t make me feel like I was punishing myself for “eating too much”.

We threw away a lot of food: I know this sounds bad, but we made a pact before we left. We told ourselves that overeating consistently was NOT worth it. We weren’t saving any money by finishing our plates and “making things count” We were adults that could make clear decisions on food and a lot of the time that meant leaving some things on the plate even though they were delicious.

We split most things: Every time we got any meal, we split our plates either 1/2 or 1/3 way. This way we were both able to try new things and honestly, once you have so many flavors on one plate it was easier to become satisfied.

We kept alcohol to a minimum: Besides the first night, we kept our alcohol consumption low. We are not big drinkers and we actually hate how we feel when we drink the next day. Even though an alcoholic beverages came with most meals, we either didn’t take part or we drank a few sips and left it on the table.

Truthfully, I was only uncomfortably stuffed twice the whole week. This is a HUGE improvement for me since I used to use trips as a “make it count” celebration where every meal was a feast. Because of this I felt in control over my food intake which went such a long way.

Some people asked me if there were any Keto or Whole30 options in the park and honestly, I never even tried to make that connection. I really don’t think that Disney or any week long true vacation should be a cause to restrict anything unless it truly feels right and natural to you.

As for where I’m at right now, I don’t really like the term “getting back on the wagon” but I look at it like this . . .

Most of the time I drive my reliable steady car which carries me through most of my life. Sometimes though I take out shiny speedy rental and go for a RIDE. Once the ride is done, I go back to driving my own car most of the time.