If you’ve just eaten Chinese food, pizza, popcorn or pretty much anything from any fast food joint, you’ll want to do a pre-emptive strike against the inevitable big-time bloating that’s about to hit your body. All of those foods are loaded with sodium, the evil arch-enemy of healthy hearts and waistlines when eaten in excess. If you’re hoping to squeeze into that tight little black dress for a big party on Saturday night, don’t even think of ordering that bucket of popcorn at the movies the night before.
When you think of salt, think of the word “tension,” as in “hypertension.” Salt can raise blood pressure in susceptible folks, making their hearts work double overtime. That’s not good. And secondly, as in “water retention.” (Okay, okay, I know it’s not spelled like “tension,” but you get the drift.) When you eat too much salt, your body tries to dilute it with water to get things inside your cells back into balance, or homeostasis. That extra water shows up as swollen feet, legs, hands and eyelids. Over time, water retention can inflate your weight by as much as 5 to 15 pounds! Eeeek! Moral of the story: He who eat too much Chinese food may not fit into his Beijing suit!
But here’s your pre-emptive striking weapon–your anti-bloatation device! Try making a jug of this tasty, refreshing, much perkier alternative to plain ol’ water. It’ll help beat the bloat, and it’s also very soothing to the digestive tract, too.
2 litres filtered water (about 8 1/2 cups)
1 small cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced
1 lemon, thinly sliced
12 mint leaves
1 teaspoon freshly grated gingerroot
Combine all ingredients in a larger pitcher and chill. (Parsley is another option that is a great diuretic. It helps with water retention and bloating. You could use it instead of mint.)
Try it! You’ll like it!
10 responses so far ↓
1 marnie // Apr 11, 2009 at 8:23 pm
This drink sounds very interesting, but I’m a bit worried about using a whole cucumber for every two litres of water.
2 Ola S. // Apr 12, 2009 at 4:54 pm
I’m assuming you’re just supposed to drink the water, right? You don’t have to down all that stuff you put in it, do you? (Sorry if that’s a stupid question.)
3 Janet Podleski // Apr 12, 2009 at 7:22 pm
No, you don’t drink the stuff that’s in the water. It just flavours the water. Gives it some oomph! When you pour the water in a glass, the mint, cucumber, etc. gets filtered out. If plain ol’ water is just too plain ol’, you will enjoy having this tastier, fresher option.
4 Elly // Apr 17, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Sounds really great, must try!!!!!!
By the way, I found “Janet & Greta’s Gourmet Chicken Burgers” at the north east Costco here in Calgary yesterday. There were only two boxes (I wish I’d bought them both) and the burgers are just finger lickin’ good!!!!!!! I always look for your stuff but this is the first time I found anything.
5 kassy // May 4, 2009 at 5:11 am
YUUUUUUMM!! as always!!
Im enjoying still the book you sent me, thanks girls!
6 diane crago // May 19, 2009 at 10:30 am
you say Mint Leaves but I can’t seem to find them in our stores here in Canada…. any suggestions of where I can find them.
7 laura // Jun 12, 2009 at 10:26 pm
i cant seem to find the mint leaves in Alabama either-any other alternatives??? anything would be helpful!!! thanks a bunch!!
8 Elly // Jun 14, 2009 at 11:18 pm
I didn’t have mint leaves so I used fresh parsley leaves……..I thought that tasted okay.
9 Ola S. // Jun 15, 2009 at 11:26 am
If it’s possible for you to do so (ie. if you have a garden) you could try growing your own mint! My family does that
10 diane // Jun 29, 2009 at 11:45 am
Would you even have to peel the cucumber since you are only drinking the water? The lemon isn’t peeled.
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