Easy Recipes: Fruit Infused Water
I drink water regularly - it’s my go-to (excluding my morning coffee). BUT, there is something about infused water, offering a hint of some of my favorite flavors minus any garbage (no preservatives, no sugar, no additives). Especially this time of year, as the weather warms, I just keep re-filling my glass full of liquid goodness.
While we can’t necessarily boast about large additional vitamins or mineral boosts through the intake of infused water, the one HUGE value infused water is something we often forget about - hydration.
I get it. Sometimes, we just don’t want water. We want pop (or diet pop). Lemonade or sweet tea. A delicious sugary-creamy concoction from your local coffee shop. But if “sometimes,” has become a regular occurrence, and water is your occasional beverage of choice, well friend, we have a problem.
Our bodies are 60% water! Not Coke. Or a Pink Drink. Water. H20. Aqua.
The proven benefits of drinking water (and by proxy, the benefit of infused water) are profound:
Boost your energy and brain power. Studies have shown that even minimal dehydration (a loss of 1-3% of your body weight through water) can have a negative impact on how your body and brain function. It also can lead to loss of focus and put you in a general bad mood.
Did you know many headaches (including migraines) can be prevented or treated just from being properly hydrated? Hydrate those cells!
Can aid in weight loss. Water helps you feel full and can prevent cravings. Additionally, imaging what will happen if you start replacing your high-calorie beverages (or those laced with chemically-produced ingredients), will do for your body?
Did someone say good skin? I did. I said good skin.😍 I 100% can tell if I’m drinking enough water by the way my skin looks and feels. When it’s hydrated from within, it literally glows. Sounds crazy I know, but it just looks different.
All of that said, I get it. Sometimes water can be a bit boring. I might pour a glass and set it on my desk as I’m working, and hours later, 3/4 of it is left. There are those days when I absolutely have to remind myself to sip it.
I can’t say that about my infused water. I crave it. And that hint of flavor makes such a difference.
Recipe Ideas for Infused Water
I’m using the term “recipe” loosely as there really isn’t one. Here are some of the herbs, veggies and fruit to infuse water with:
Lemon/Mint
Lime/Mint
Lemon/Lime
Lemon/Lime/Mint
Cucumber/Basil
Cucumber/Mint
Strawberries/Lemon/Basil
Watermelon/Lime
Pineapple/Lime/Strawberries
Raspberry/Mint
Raspberry/Lemon
Watermelon/Strawberry/Lemon
Your combinations are endless, and can mix and match your ingredients to your heart’s content. Here’s how I make my infused water:
1) Wash your fruit/vegetables. I cannot stress this enough…not only can your items contain pesticides, some of these items ae purchased individually, and a plethora of grubby hands could have literally handled them. SO GROSS!
I’ve been using Koala Eco and LOVE it! It’s made in the USA with Australian essential oils. They’re entire range of products is fantastic.
2) Slice and place your selections in your pitcher of water.
3) Refrigerate for 2-3 hours before drinking.
My pitcher for infused water is another made in the USA brand option from Pampered Chef. It’s perfect for 2 reasons: 1) The plunger mixes/stirs while keeping the fruit away from the spout and 2) the spout has a close/pour/strain option, to keep seeds out of my glass. Mine is several years old so shaped slightly different than the current one, but the concept is the same.
