Spice Up Your Water

Posted: Aug 14 in Post-Bariatric Diet by

Spice up water after Lap Band, gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy in Naples and Ft. MyersDon’t fall for those sugary flavor pouches that claim to add oomph to your water without dietary destruction. Artificial flavors are filled with ingredients like sugar, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners and more. Whether you underwent surgery for Lap Band, gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy, you need to manage your calorie intake carefully, and that means avoiding extra sugar when you are trying to hydrate.

Cutting out the sweet drinks doesn’t mean cutting out flavor. By adding all-natural healthy items like spices, fruits and teas you can enjoy your water and save your calories for later.

Use Spices to your Advantage

Spices are your best friend after weight loss surgery. Whether you are filling up a glass of water or cooking a few ounces of chicken, you can add a lot of flavor to your meal with the right combination of spices and herbs.

  • Mint: A lot of people don’t realize how versatile the mint plant is. Mint leaves are entirely edible and each packs a lot of flavor. You can pull a mint leaf off the tree and munch on it to get the fresh flavor, or you can throw a few leaves into your water bottle with ice and enjoy the crisp taste all day long.
  • Rosemary and lemon: For a savory cup of water, try adding a dash of rosemary and squirt of lemon juice into your cup of ice water, but put the rosemary leaves in a tea strainer so that you aren’t drinking the bristles. The tart taste of the lemon contrasts with the savory taste of the rosemary. You will want to sit down and enjoy this cup of water.
  • Green tea: You don’t need to brew yourself a hot cup of tea to enjoy the flavors and health benefits tea offers. Add your favorite tea bag to your cup of ice water and let the flavors slowly steep. You can have a homemade cup of iced white, green or black tea. Skip the sweetener and enjoy the tea for what it is in order to keep the calorie count minimal.

If you are having trouble drinking enough water, try carrying around a water bottle with you. There are plenty of insulated water bottles around that will keep your water cold or hot for up to 12 hours, which means you can take it to work and it will be just as cold as when you fixed it in the morning.

Changing the way that you drink water can make a big difference in how willing you are to keep the hydrating habit up. Check with your weight loss surgeon to determine how much water you should be drinking every day.

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