The difference water can make
Regulates body temperature: Water helps regulate your body temperature through sweating and respiration. Adequate hydration prevents overheating during physical activity and helps maintain a stable internal temperature.
Water supports bodily functions: Water is essential for various bodily functions, including digestion, absorption of nutrients, circulation, and excretion of waste products. It helps transport nutrients and oxygen to cells, lubricates joints, and cushions organs and tissues.
Promotes cardiovascular health: proper hydration supports a healthy cardiovascular system by maintaining adequate blood volume and facilitating the heart’s pumping action. Dehydration can strain the heart and increase heart rate and blood pressure.
Boosts cognitive function: Drinking enough water is essential for optimal brain function. Even mild dehydration can impair cognitive performance, including concentration, alertness, and short-term memory. Staying hydrated can help maintain mental clarity and focus.
Supports kidney function: The kidneys rely on adequate water intake to filter waste products and toxins from the blood and excrete them in urine.
Insufficient hydration can lead to kidney stones, urinary tract infections, and other kidney-related issues.
Aids in weight management: Drinking water before meals can help reduce appetite and calorie intake, promoting weight loss or maintenance. Water has zero calories and can help fill you up, preventing overeating.
Improves physical performance: Hydration is crucial to physical performance and endurance. Even mild dehydration can impair exercise performance, leading to fatigue, decreased strength, and reduced endurance. Proper hydration before, during, and after exercise can help maintain optimal performance and recovery.
Supports skin health: Adequate hydration is essential for maintaining healthy skin. Water helps keep the skin hydrated, plump, and elastic, reducing the risk of dryness, wrinkles, and other skin problems.
Overall, drinking enough water is essential for maintaining optimal health and functioning of the body. It’s important to stay hydrated throughout the day by drinking water regularly, especially during hot weather, physical activity, or when experiencing illness or dehydration.
Nutrition corner:
Celebrate Easter with authentic Malay-style pickled fish
Why pickled fish over Easter?
On Food24 website Tessa Purdon writes:
“Pickled fish (‘ingelegde vis’ in Afrikaans) has deep historical roots and eating it on Good Friday is a cherished and revered tradition in the Cape that dates back centuries. It’s a simple dish that tells a unique story of social customs and çooking practices that have been passed down through generations.”
“Some say the recipe was originally created by Cape Malay fishermen in an effort to preserve the catch for as long as possible (bear in mind there was no such thing as refrigeration back then). And many believe that one shouldn’t do any cooking on Good Friday and no stove should be turned on, which meant you would make the fish on the Wednesday before the Easter weekend and there would be enough to last until Monday”.
Do you want to try and make your own?
Then you will need the following ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
5 large onions, cut into rings
Fresh ginger, grated
4 cloves crushed garlic
5 teaspoons mild curry powder
2 teaspoons turmeric
6 bay leaves
1 teaspoon allspice powder
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
1 teaspoon cumin powder
1 litre white vinegar
300-gram sugar
2kg kingklip or deep-sea hake cut into portions
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Flour, for dusting
Preparation instructions:
In a stainless-steel saucepan over a medium heat, add 1 tablespoon oil and, when hot, gently sauté the onion until translucent. Add the ginger, garlic and spices and fry gently for a few minutes, or until fragrant.
Add the vinegar and sugar and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Simmer for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, dust the fish with the seasoned flour and pat off any excess.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a heavy-based frying pan and, when hot, fry the fish until golden but still succulent.
Place a layer of fish in a deep sterile glass or non-metallic container and pour a little of the hot sauce over it, to cover. Continue layering fish and sauce until all the fish is covered. Cool, then chill until ready to serve.
Support our community projects
We would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation for your generous donations to our ongoing community projects. Our current project is donating 300 pairs of white and grey school socks to help keep our kids’ feet warm and dry during the upcoming winter season. Your contribution will have a significant impact on our efforts. Donations can be dropped off at Reception.
With colder months approaching, we will collect and donate blankets and clothing for the Stellenbosch night shelter starting in April.
Please know that Maties Gym will put your donation to good use, and we will ensure that it is used responsibly for the intended purpose.
