You've heard all the advice, you know you should be drinking more water, but you'd rather have something sweet and sugary or caffeinated. Just how can you make water more interesting? Well the good news is you don't need to pay over the odds for plastic bottles of vitamin-infused water, it's easy - and better - to make your own.
Why drink water?
The bottomline is that water keeps us alive. It keeps our cells hydrated and plump. It also flushes out toxins to naturally cleanse our insides, and keeps our brains working. We cannot live without it.
But there are times when drinking water gets boring and many of us turn to the chilled drinks fridge. Instead of buying vitamin water, flavored sparkling water or sports drinks, why not use nature’s good stuff, for free, right in your own home?
What is vitamin infused water?
Infused water has the benefits of drinking good-for-you water, plus the added taste of whatever you chose to add to your water. This can be fruit, vegetables, herbs or spices, or a combination of 2 or 3 things together. All without any added sugar or calories.
What flavours can you use?
You can soak cut pieces of fresh fruit or raw vegetables in a container, preferably fresh and organic. Frozen fruits won’t release as much juice as you’d like, and will more likely to sink to be bottom of your bottle or glass, which also goes for dried fruit.
Some fruits have strong flavours, such as pineapples, lemons and oranges, and can be reused. Just wait until the water is halfway down the bottle or pitcher, and then add more water.
You can also add herbs and spices that are both colourful and fragrant, not to mention all the added health benefits that will permeate into your water.
Here are a few examples:
Fruit
Veggies
Herbs
Spices
How it’s done
1. The first thing you have to do is release the natural oils and flavor in the fruit, veggies, herbs or spices. You can do this by either slightly mashing up fruit and vegetables using a wooden spoon. You can also break up the herbs or spices just a little bit. For citrus fruits, don’t forget to peel it before adding it to the water to avoid having that bitter taste.
2. Then, add filtered water, or sparkling water if you prefer. For best results, you can use water at room temperature, or even cold water if you like, just as you long as you don't use boiling water as it will break down the enzymes and nutrients in the added ingredients.
3. Give it a good stir and leave it for at least 3 - 4 hours to get the most taste and colour. You can leave it in the fridge, or at room temperature, to do its magic. However, don't leave the added ingredients in the water for more than 24 hours because most will start to decompose. Delicate fruits, such as berries and melons, tend to decompose quicker than other types.
4. You can safely store your water in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Benefits of Vitamin Infused Water
Are there really any added benefits to infused water besides taste and colour? Yes! Almost 20% of nutrients in the added ingredients get blended in and absorbed by water.
Therefore, if you add strawberries or lemons, you’re drinking water that’s rich in vitamin C. If you add basil or mint to your strawberries, you get the added benefits of minerals, such as iron, which helps the body absorb vitamin C, as well as antioxidants.
Other benefits to infused water:
More easy ways to get healthy:
10 Fitness Tips for Beginners
10 Ways to Increase Your Daily Steps
9 Habits for Healthy Eating
How to Have a Good Night's Sleep
30 Days to a Happier, More Balanced Life
Why drink water?
The bottomline is that water keeps us alive. It keeps our cells hydrated and plump. It also flushes out toxins to naturally cleanse our insides, and keeps our brains working. We cannot live without it.
But there are times when drinking water gets boring and many of us turn to the chilled drinks fridge. Instead of buying vitamin water, flavored sparkling water or sports drinks, why not use nature’s good stuff, for free, right in your own home?
What is vitamin infused water?
Infused water has the benefits of drinking good-for-you water, plus the added taste of whatever you chose to add to your water. This can be fruit, vegetables, herbs or spices, or a combination of 2 or 3 things together. All without any added sugar or calories.
What flavours can you use?
You can soak cut pieces of fresh fruit or raw vegetables in a container, preferably fresh and organic. Frozen fruits won’t release as much juice as you’d like, and will more likely to sink to be bottom of your bottle or glass, which also goes for dried fruit.
Some fruits have strong flavours, such as pineapples, lemons and oranges, and can be reused. Just wait until the water is halfway down the bottle or pitcher, and then add more water.
You can also add herbs and spices that are both colourful and fragrant, not to mention all the added health benefits that will permeate into your water.
Here are a few examples:
Fruit
- Citrus
- Berries
- Melons
- Tropical fruits
- Stone fruits
Veggies
- Cucumbers
- Celery
- Peppers
- Carrots
Herbs
- Mint
- Basil
- Coriander
- Thyme
- Lavender
- Rosemary
- Sage
Spices
- Cinnamon sticks (ground cinnamon won’t saturate into the water, it’ll just float to the top)
- Ginger
How it’s done
1. The first thing you have to do is release the natural oils and flavor in the fruit, veggies, herbs or spices. You can do this by either slightly mashing up fruit and vegetables using a wooden spoon. You can also break up the herbs or spices just a little bit. For citrus fruits, don’t forget to peel it before adding it to the water to avoid having that bitter taste.
2. Then, add filtered water, or sparkling water if you prefer. For best results, you can use water at room temperature, or even cold water if you like, just as you long as you don't use boiling water as it will break down the enzymes and nutrients in the added ingredients.
3. Give it a good stir and leave it for at least 3 - 4 hours to get the most taste and colour. You can leave it in the fridge, or at room temperature, to do its magic. However, don't leave the added ingredients in the water for more than 24 hours because most will start to decompose. Delicate fruits, such as berries and melons, tend to decompose quicker than other types.
4. You can safely store your water in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Benefits of Vitamin Infused Water
Are there really any added benefits to infused water besides taste and colour? Yes! Almost 20% of nutrients in the added ingredients get blended in and absorbed by water.
Therefore, if you add strawberries or lemons, you’re drinking water that’s rich in vitamin C. If you add basil or mint to your strawberries, you get the added benefits of minerals, such as iron, which helps the body absorb vitamin C, as well as antioxidants.
Other benefits to infused water:
- Protects organs and helps them function well
- Normalizes blood pressure
- Keeps skin soft and younger-looking, helps regulate collagen-production which reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines
- Helps regulate body temperature
- Helps offset dehydration
- Lubricates joints and decreases risk of swelling and inflammations
- Helps keep bowel movements regular and reduces the risk of constipation
- Cleanses the liver
- Transports nutrients and oxygen
- Curbs your hunger and helps you lose weight
- Reduces muscle fatigue
- Boosts focus and concentration abilities and helps you think more clearly
- Helps prevent kidney stones
More easy ways to get healthy:
10 Fitness Tips for Beginners
10 Ways to Increase Your Daily Steps
9 Habits for Healthy Eating
How to Have a Good Night's Sleep
30 Days to a Happier, More Balanced Life
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