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11 NATURAL WAYS TO INFUSE YOUR WATER

Course Beverages, Soft Drinks

Notes

Kick your water up a notch with these 11 homemade, natural infusions. Staying properly hydrated is important for your overall health, but let’s face it — plain water can get pretty boring. Spruce up your water to make drinking it more appealing and also to gain nutritional benefits. Add an extra punch to your water with our infusion ideas. Establish a Routine to Get Your Water in One of the trickiest parts of getting enough water each day is simply remembering to drink it. Set alarms on your phone to remind you, download an app to track your intake or simply pre-fill water bottles with the desired amount and drink them by the end of the day. Find a routine that works for you. Tip: To figure out how much water you should be drinking, use our guide. How to Infuse Water Infuse by adding one part ingredients, two parts water and one part ice. Leave the mixture in the fridge overnight. You can also use one part ingredients and three parts ice for a slower infusion. Some tasty ingredients you can use to infuse your water include: Cucumber: Adding cucumber to your water is reminiscent of spending a day at the spa. Lemon: Like cucumber, adding lemon to water adds a nice citrus punch, helps energize you and can also help with bloating. Strawberries: Strawberries are a delicious and sweet addition to water. They also help protect your immune system. Cantaloupe or Melon: For a refreshing glass of water, add cantaloupe or melon. The riper the fruit, the sweeter the water will taste. Tip: Be sure to wash fruits, veggies and herbs thoroughly before using them. Get Fancy Add fresh herbs (they must be fresh) to the fruit-infused water for a hint of complexity. This is a great option for when you have a little extra time to mix and muddle. The more you muddle, the more flavorful the water will be.   Fruit and herbs go very well together, so mix and match any of these combinations: Watermelon and Rosemary: This combination is especially soothing, and the rosemary is strong so it won’t need much. Pineapple and Mint: This makes for a fantastic, tangy palette cleanser. Blackberry and Basil: You won’t be disappointed with this delightfully complex combination. The basil is aromatic and the blackberries add just a hint of sweetness. Raspberry and Lime: The tartness and acidity of the berries and lime make for a perfect post-workout refreshment. Lavender and Orange: This calming combination of citrus and lavender tastes great when served at room temperature. A Little Something Extra Add Bubbles: Add some seltzer to any of the aforementioned infusions for an added kick. Drinking carbonated water is a great way to avoid drinking soda, and bubbles add a refreshing twist without the added chemicals or calories. Create Infused Ice Cubes. If you want to add just a little something extra to an already existing water infusion (or even to plain water), freeze fruit and/or herbs in an ice tray. These will add a hint of flavor without having to go through the muddling or infusing. The best way to drink infused water is after letting it set in the refrigerator for a while. The longer the add-ins are soaked in the water, the better the flavor. Get creative with recipes and find a new flavor to enjoy each week to keep it interesting! ***********************************************
How Much Water Should I Drink?
  1. Are you drinking enough water? The answer is probably yes.
  2. We hear all the time how important it is to drink water for your overall health and wellness – which is true. Water is important.
  3. We also hear that you need to drink eight glasses a day – which is not true. Most of the water your body needs you’ll get through eating a well-rounded diet.
  4. Plus, everyone’s different. The amount of water you need each day won’t be exactly the same as someone else.
  5. However, there are some universal considerations to keep in mind, which may leave your body wanting a little more hydration:
The Environment
  1. If you live in a particularly hot, humid or cold environment, your daily water intake may need to increase. Additionally, if you live at a higher altitude, your ounces should be upped.
Your Activity Level
  1. When you exercise, you sweat, which means your body is losing both water and electrolytes. Make sure you drink enough water to replenish what you lost.
Illnesses or Other Health Conditions
  1. If you’re sick, your body tends to need more fluids to help heal – particularly if you are vomiting, experiencing diarrhea or have a fever. Staying hydrated can help you feel better faster.
  2. It’s pretty easy to lose track of how much water you’ve been drinking throughout the day. The biggest thing to remember is: if you’re thirsty, drink.
  3. However, here are some other ideas to help you avoid feeling that thirst in the first place – or to keep you from reaching for that sugary soda:
  4. Add some flavor: Naturally infusing flavor into your water can get you to drink more. Fruits and vegetables like lemon, lime, cucumbers and grapefruit make for a refreshing addition to a tall glass of water.
  5. Drink water before each meal: Drink two cups of water (16 ounces) before each meal. This can also help with portion control so you don’t overeat at meals.
  6. Use technology: There are a number of apps you can download for your smartphone that help you track your water consumption. Or just set an alarm on your phone that goes off every few hours.