“Moisture is the essence of wetness, and wetness is the essence of beauty.”
– Legendary Beauty Warrior Derek Zoolander
The oft-repeated quote by the most ridiculously good-looking male model ever is sure to elicit laughter at dinner parties, but Derek Zoolander was onto something. We can plan for healthy living all day but the core marker of wellness, essential for optimal digestion, detoxification, brain function, stamina, metabolism, and muscle recovery that makes glass skin, supple joints, and silky hair possible, will always be hydration. Humans might not actually be 97% water as lore has it, but in adulthood, factoring in bones, the brain, muscle, and organ tissue, we’re about 60% agua. Whether a fitness fanatic or couch potato, chilling in the tropics or the mountains, ingesting adequate clean, safe water and electrolytes is a must for feeling and looking our best.
For all the frivolous First World problems we complain about in America, water insecurity and access to clean water, is a growing concern, especially in rural areas. As a NYC resident, I’m blessed with some of the best water in the country, though I sometimes get a whiff of bleach from the faucet. Sure, chlorine is the most common disinfectant used in municipal water systems at rates deemed safe for the population at large, but I still prefer filtered. If you want to ensure clean quaffing at home without the use of single-use plastics and check how clean or dirty your water is, the ZeroWater 7 Cup 5-stage Water Filtration Pitcher with Ready-Pour™ technology includes a Water Quality Meter to test for TDS, Total Dissolved Solids, like organic and inorganic materials, metals, minerals, salts, and ions.
The first step in using the ZeroWater filter is to test your tap water for TDS by placing the Water Quality Meter in a filled glass. Almost instantaneously, my NYC tap water came in at 046, while the reading from the most water-insecure regions can be as high as 200. I rinsed the BPA-free pitcher and inserted the 5 Stage Charcoal Filter designed to absorb all the ickies, the total dissolved solids, including, dust, rust lead, chromium, PFOA/PFOS, bacteria, and bleach, into the filter. When the basin filled, I couldn’t wait to test the result. The Water Quality Meter gave a reading of 000. I took a sip and then a gulp, and downed a few glasses of clear, crisp water that evoked a pristine, stunning waterfall, water as it should be. The 7 Cup model is the best fit for small kitchens like mine, that also function as makeup and shoe storage. For girls with more counter space, a 12-cup model with the same filter is as reasonably priced as a case of bottled, filtered water.
If you’re looking for an extra bit of stamina, from brain and body, as well as focus, you can kick it up a notch and upgrade your filtered water with RDCL Superfood Hydration powders. At only 10 calories per serving, the base of coconut water concentrate delivers potassium, B vitamins, vitamin D3, magnesium, and other essential minerals, as well as adaptogenic Rhodiola and the caffeine alternative L-Theanine extract from Green tea which also helps with sleep quality. A scoop of RDCL plant-based powder (pronounced “Radical”) dissolves quickly with a fruity kick and is available in two formulations. I like the Dragon Fruit Superberry Immunity + Stress Support version before and after workouts, and Passion Fruit Immunity + Focused Energy blend to power through long writing sessions.
If you want to replicate the same immune and stamina-boosting nutrient-packed hydration on the go, with an extra kick, All Phenoms sparkling functional beverages have found a home in your gym bag. Formulated by a former professional athlete to function as a hybrid sports drink and smoothie in one, with less than 15 calories per serving in a base of purified water, these thirst quenchers deliver fruit juice, pro and post-biotics, brain-bolstering nootropics, immune-boosting vitamin C, elderberry, marine minerals, coconut water, adaptogenic mushrooms, and a pop of effervescence. Available in Daily Mango Pineapple, Defense Blueberry Mint, and Energy Focus Citrus Ginger. Sans artificial sweeteners, a gift-giving 12-pack of all three flavors for maximum hydration, nutrient delivery, and optimal wellness will be on my holiday shopping lists.
With quality hydration under your belt, why not keep the sparkling, refreshing, probiotic-rich vibe going with Culture Pop Soda (https://drinkculturepop.com/) later in the day. Though not a soda in a traditional sense, the array of Kombucha-like blends offered by Culture Pop Soda, replete with wellness-giving coriander and probiotics, feel reminiscent of a sweet treat. Whether Black Cherry, Strawberry & Rhubarb, Wild Berry & Mint, Watermelon & Lime, Pink Grapefruit & Ginger, and my favorite Ginger Lemon Turmeric, these beverages are so culinary forward they are refreshers fit for a foodie or fancy mocktails right out of the can. If you’re not a fan of full-on Kombucha, like me, you’ll like the lighter, fermented zing of Culture Pop Soda.
Speaking of mocktails with a wellness kick, Modica’s array of flavored syrups, added to a base of purified or sparkling water, will wow any holiday dinner guests, whether teetotaling or not. Available in Blueberry Lavender Lemon Drop, Turmeric Ginger Mule, Tart Cherry Old Fashioned, Cucumber Aloe Margarita, and recently launched CACAO ESPRESSO MARTINI, the mixers are derived from whole ingredients and superfoods, unlike most commercially available mixers. They are no-brainer additions to any wellness routine as flavor boosters for smoothies and protein shakes. The electrolyte and nutrient-rich blends only add 35 calories and 9 grams of sugar per serving. Psst, they work really well in real cocktails too!
We don’t often think about the base of our smoothies and lattes as forms of hydration, but with the popularity of paleo and plant-based lifestyles, milks matter. Now that soymilk and its possible negative health effects are passé, and almond milk’s drain on the water supply in a time of increasing water insecurity, 2024 looks poised to be about seed milk, namely the sunflower seeds used in Lattini. Harnessing the power of golden sunflowers for a non-dairy milk that’s creamy and nutty, and packed with key nutrients rarely found in plant-based drinks, like Calcium, Vitamin E, and B12, skin-loving Copper. Given the ease of planting sunflowers, which grow with drought-tolerant roots that improve soil health and attract pollinators like bees, sunflowers and their seeds are environmentalist favorites for maintaining ecosystems. Available in Original and Unsweetened, Lattini sunflower milks are only 50 calories per serving. The Chocolate version is slightly sweetened, and a perfect creamy addition to jeuje up to protein shakes and overnight oats.
