Stay hydrated with these tasty drinks.

Summer in Sydney has been hot this year, and if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding you’ll be finding it even harder to keep cool. Still breastfeeding my beautiful 10-month old, I’m constantly thirsty and water just doesn’t cut it all the time. There’s only so much I can drink! So while I definitely drink my fair share of water each day, I’ve had to turn to other drinks to quench my thirst. Here are some of my favourite ways* to stay hydrated:

FRUIT TISANES FROM T2
From berries and pomegranate to apple crumble and toasty nougat, these fruit teas are super refreshing and deliver a touch fruity-sweetness. They require a little bit of prep, so boil some water before you go to bed each night, make a jug of your favourite brew and pop it in the fridge so it’s chilled for the next day. I use the T2 Jug-a-lot, which has been designed with a long infuser to make the perfect tea, as well as an airtight lid that prevents spillage and allows you to store the jug on its side in the fridge. Pumping Pomegranate, Packs A Peach and Fruitalicious are some of my favs, and I tend to drink then with ice out of a stemless wine glass.

FRESH VEGGIE JUICE
I find that there is nothing more refreshing than a fresh juice made at home using my Breville Juice Fountain. I’m on my second juicer, that’s how much I love it. Rarely do I have a straight fruit juice, instead I opt for predominantly veggie juice with a serve of fruit. My go-to is either a carrot, celery, apple, kale and ginger juice or a mix of celery, apple, cucumber and kale. Add in some ice and I find it super refreshing.

SPARKLING WATER
When I’m after a few bubbles in my water I use my Sodastream. It’s great because I can easily vary the amount of carbonation depending on what I’m after. My favourite is sparkling water with mixed fresh mint and lime juice. I’ll throw in some fresh lime wedges for good measure. There are plenty of other tasty fresh combinations to enjoy (think lemon, strawberries, cucumber), without having to add the sugary sodastream flavours.

ICED LATTE
I absolutely love coffee and look forward to my morning cup of java every day. When the weather is hot, I might ditch my hot coffee for a super-refreshing iced latte. I make it with espresso coffee, plenty of ice and skim milk. I find milk really thirst quenching on a hot day, and science backs me on this. As well as containing protein, carbs and calcium, milk contains electrolytes like sodium and potassium, which replaces the sodium lost in sweat and helps the body retain fluid. The nutrients and electrolytes contained in milk also means the stomach empties more slowly, which results in a less dramatic effect on the kidneys whose job is to expel the water we consume from beverages. And what about the potential diuretic effect of caffeine? If you are a regular caffeine user there is no need to worry as it won’t dehydrate you further. Just be sure keep your daily coffee intake to one or two.

AQUAMAMMA
I was introduced to Aquamamma at an event last year when my daughter was only a few weeks old, and I have to say, it’s pretty tasty. For those of you haven’t heard of Aquamamma, it’s a beverage that has been specifically formulated to help meet the hydration and electrolyte needs of pregnant and breastfeeding women. It’s low in kilojoules, low in sugar and low in sodium, and comes in three flavours – mixed berry, lemon and orange.

* These are my personal hydration methods and this article is not sponsored. Check with your health care professional to see if these drink options are suitable for you.