Now, drink water that is spiked with purple rice and pumpkin

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Now, drink water that is spiked with purple rice and pumpkin

Flushing out toxins with plain water is passé. Felice Liao acquaints guests, at herhome and restaurant, with the benefits of ­- you heard it, detox water

By Purva Grover

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Published: Fri 31 Mar 2017, 6:20 PM

Last updated: Fri 31 Mar 2017, 8:29 PM

Last night, on reaching home, Felice Liao, rushed to the kitchen to prepare a special water concoction that she's christened the Detox Water to Eliminate Bloating. "My husband and I were invited to dinner and post-meal, both of us felt so bloated. So I prepared the drink for us and it really worked."
She used ingredients like papaya, purple rice, mint, pumpkin, beetroot, kale, and ginger to create the mix. Water is Felice's favourite drink (followed by smoothies and tea) and she tells us that it should be ours too. We've all consumed the most-shared health tip - drink eight glasses of water a day for a healthy body. Right? However, she recommends that we consume the infused type. You must be familiar with detox water (it's been trending in the food world for a while) - an infused water preparation that helps flush toxins from our body and provides multiple health benefits. Gulp down more of it with us.
Growing up in Taiwan, Felice at a young age learnt the importance of wholesome food for good health. An entrepreneur, she is committed to promoting healthy eating and has made it her life's purpose to understand (and share) the benefits of the simple drink, water. In Felice's home, you will be offered a cup of tea or coffee, but you are more likely to be presented with a Water Menu. Co-owner of TaiPei Dao Teahouse and Restaurant (Downtown Dubai), it's no wonder she has extended the concept to the venue too - each guest (if you book the table at least one day in advance) gets a chance to sample a different recipe, each week, complimentary. The water menu can be broadly divided into 12 water types - each can be prepared using four-to-five different recipes. It goes without saying that Felice has developed each of the 50 recipes. "Three years ago, I noticed that a lot of people were not consuming enough enzymes, vitamins, and phytochemicals - most of these are water soluble, hence detox water is the easiest and best way for our bodies to absorb them." She has been self-studying and researchig various health-related topics for the past 15 years, and putting the learning into  practice on herself and her family members. "Over time, I noticed a positive change in my metabolism - meaning that my body would feel lighter when I woke up in the morning. Plus, it took care of a few other health problems."
So, is there a good time to consume detox water? "On an empty stomach, for the body will find it easier to absorb the nutrients. The enzymes help in improving digestion and the nutrients can protect the stomach's membrane too." Else, she recommends two glasses before every meal. And does she drink a glass everyday? "No. I alternate between detox water types and vegetable-fruit smoothies - the latter provide both soluble and insoluble nutrients." However, if she's at the restaurant, she drinks one or two glasses before the meal. Her favourite veggies and fruits for creating these concoctions include kale, mint, grapefruit, beetroot, Chinese yam, kiwi, banana, apple, bitter melon, and raw papaya. Plus, she likes to add germinated brown rice too. Does she have a favourite recipe? "Each of the types has its share of benefits and is important for us - it all depends on the needs of the body."
An active member of several international health associations, in recent years she has also become an advocate for the Five Coloured Diet theory, which too she has incorporated in the recipe creation process. "As per Chinese medicine, five colours are connected to five major organs - hence, we should eat five different colours of vegetables and fruits to take care of our organs and balance our health." Here's how the colour chart reads: White for lungs, green for liver, blue or purple for kidneys, red for heart, and yellow for spleen. Now, that does sound like a colourful spread waiting to be sampled.
purva@khaleejtimes.com
Purva is a storyteller in search of  her favourite word


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