One of the keys to preventing dehydration is drinking plenty of fluids, including water. While water is almost always the best drink choice, a lot of people complain that they get bored drinking plain water. While you can add purchased flavored drink mixes to water, you can also make your own flavored water by infusing it with different fruits and herbs.
Infusing water with a little flavor is really simple. Fill a pitcher with water, add thinly sliced fruits, herbs or spices, and chill in the refrigerator. You also can add sliced fresh fruit to a reusable water bottle. The combinations are endless. Some fruits work better than others. Berries tend to break down faster than hardier citrus fruits like lemons or limes. For stronger flavored water, prepare it a day ahead and keep it in the fridge overnight before drinking.
Health Benefits of Infused Water
A great benefit of infusing water with fresh fruits, herbs, and spices is that you can get some added nutritional benefits. Lemons, lime, oranges, grapefruit, and berries are all excellent sources of vitamin C. Fresh ginger and fresh mint are both refreshing flavorings as well as good for upset stomachs.
Making your own flavored water is also a good way to avoid the unnecessary added sugars, preservatives or chemicals that often are added to drink mixes or commercially available flavored waters. Eager to get started? Check out the simple infused water recipes below!
Cucumber-Infused Water
What you will need:
- 1 cucumber
- A strainer
- Water and ice
For slightly flavored-infused cucumber water, cut a cucumber up into small slices or chunks, add it to your water and cover, and let sit in the fridge overnight. Strain the mixture before drinking.
For a more flavorful cucumber-infused water, blend the cucumber and pour it into a strainer and let drip overnight. In the morning, mix the cucumber juice with a pitcher of water.
