Beauty Boosting Flavoured Iced Cubes!

We all know how important it is to stay hydrated, particularly during the warm months of the year. Infused waters are a great way to go, but these flavored ice cubes are even better! As they melt, they add flavour to your water along with a boost of added beauty benefits.

BLOAT-BUSTING PINEAPPLE: Pineapple is one of the greatest sources of bromelain which is a digestive enzyme that can help combat bloating and gas. Toss a few cubes into your water and sip away. To make about 16 ice cubes, fill a traditional ice cube tray with 2 cups of fresh pineapple juice. I juiced 1 large pineapple, including the core. The core has the highest amount of bromelain. You can also use canned or frozen pineapple juice.

DETOX GREEN TEA & GINGER: Both green tea and ginger have great detoxifying benefits. Brew up 1 cups of green tea along with a few inches of fresh ginger cut into thin slices. Let it cool and pour the tea it into an ice cube tray. The sliced ginger can be strained out or placed in the wells along with the tea. Green tea has other fantastic health benefits including weight loss, lowering bad cholesterol levels, regulating body temperature and blood sugar, to name a few.

ALKALISING LEMON + CUCUMBER: Turn the classic spa favourite into ice cubes! Puree 2 small or 1 large cucumber and add the juice of 1 lemon and freeze in an ice cube tray. Cucumbers and lemons are both loaded with antioxidants and can help alkalize the body , and act as natural diuretics. Cucumbers are especially hydrating and cooling, making them perfect for sipping as the ice cubes melt. Try it in sparkling water – even more refreshing!

HEALING ALOE VERA: Aloe is great for the skin, but there are also numerous benefits from taking pure aloe vera juice internally. It’s great for keeping things moving along (if you know what I mean) and can help with inflammation of the digestive tract. Aloe also has anti-bacteterial and anti-fungal properties and may help boost the body’s immunity. (source) It is high in vitamins, minerals, enzymes, fatty-acids and amino acids. (source)

Try to look for unsweetened, pure aloe vera juice that is intended for internal use.  You can usually find it in health food stores or in the pharmacy area of grocery stores.  Pour it into ice cube trays and freeze. Pop a few cubes into a glass of water. Just be careful not to go overboard on the aloe juice (it’s delicious!) or it could cause a little bit of stomach upset. Another great way to use these aloe juice cubes is in a smoothie.

Here a few more ideas to spruce up those ice cubes:
-fresh mint leaves or peppermint tea – very cooling on a hot day
-berries
-fresh vegetable juice
-pureed melon
-lemon, sliced ginger, dash cayenne pepper

(p.s. It might go without saying, but these ice cubes also make great additions to cocktails!)