Could there be a more beautiful way to keep your pregnant-self hydrated? I think not! Click the pic to go to a great post on Aguas Frescas by Matt from MattBites.com. Photo credit mattbites.com.
Aguas Frescas are the perfect pregnancy drink (second only to fresh pure coconut water). We have been having a very long hot summer here in NYC, so I’ve been stressing proper hydration more than ever with my doula and childbirth education clients. One reason is because dehydration is a common cause of what is called “uterine irritability.” With uterine irritability you can feel like you’re having labor contractions, when in fact you’re simply dehydrated. I wrote about this in a my blog post Tips for a Holistic Pregnancy and Birth, so please go there to refresh yourself on the key points.
As I mentioned, coconut water is typically my go-to beverage, but after the number of weeks we’ve had of steamy weather, it’s time to switch it up a bit. Enter Aguas Frescas! Here are some great recipes and links to help you whip up something delightful to quench your thirst. For the optimal pregnancy drink you should add a little good quality salt (like Himala Salt) to the recipes (some of them already have it), and you probably want to skip the alcohol (which can be dehydrating) when hydration is your goal.
Popular blog The Kitchn describes Aguas Frescas like this:
from TheKitchn.com
In their purest form, agua frescas are simply blended fruit, water, and a little lime – the essence of summer fruit, sipped through a straw. Adding an herb-infused simple syrup (and maybe a splash of vodka) opens a world of inventive flavor possibilities.
The key is to use the ripest fruit you can find. Taking my cue from the agua fresca vendors around New York this week, that meant watermelon, cantaloupe or honeydew, with pineapple, mango and peach appearing later in the summer.
Simply throw your fruit of choice in a blender with some water, sweeten to taste and serve. If you’re working with a fibrous fruit like pineapple (or if you’re the type of person that buys pulp-free OJ), go ahead and strain after blending, but you’ll lose the lovely froth.
Using simple syrup is an optional step – you could easily swap in honey or agave nectar. But making the syrup is quick, and lets you get creative. After the syrup has come to a boil and the sugar has completely dissolved, throw in your favorite herb, like mint, basil, and lavender. Fifteen minutes later, you’ll have a delicate, fragrant infusion for a signature agua fresca.
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