As you likely know, I’m a big advocate for proper hydration and have been for a very long time. A couple of months ago I read the book Quench, and it really changed my approach to how I hydrate.

But to summarize, the book introduces you to the idea that water has four forms: liquid, ice, vapor, and gel. Gel water is slightly more viscous than regular water, but the magic of it is that it hydrates our bodies more efficiently than plain water can. Fruits and vegetables are one of the best sources of gel water, but you can also find great sources of super-concentrated gel water, one of which is chia seeds. These tiny seeds come from a dessert-dwelling plant that is incredibly efficient at storing water, and the second you submerge chia seeds into water you can visibly watch as the gel water forms around the seed. You can feel it when you consume the seed, as well!

This is my own slight variation on a green juice recipe that is recommended throughout the book. I’ve been drinking it almost daily for the past couple of months and have been amazed at the increase in energy I feel simply by adding a green juice to my daily routine. If you’re curious about gel water or how to hydrate more efficiently, I highly recommend reading Quench (you can go read my full review of it by clicking here).

To make this juice I simply combine all the ingredients into a blender (we have a super basic, not-fancy blender and it works fine for this) and blend until it’s smooth. I recommend drinking it with a straw, or at least having a straw in the cup so that you can stir it occasionally, as it tends to separate a bit and the chia seeds can sometimes clump together.

8 oz Coconut Water
1 tbsp Chia Seeds
1 pinch Coarse Sea Salt
1 Cucumber (peeled if not organic)
Juice from 1/2 lime
1 tsp Grated Ginger
1-2 tsp honey (to taste, local is best)
4-6 oz Water

For variation, you can try adding an apple or pear to the recipe above. You can also add a handful of spinach or alfalfa sprouts — they don’t add much flavor but add an additional dose of gel water. Happy Hydrating!