Fresh water is an essential part of daily life. In fact, humans can’t live without consuming water for more than three days! Exactly How many glasses of water should the average adult drink each day? At least eight. Are you feeling guilty because you do not consume enough water? Well, don’t! There is a fun, simple and tasty way to get more H2O into your system.
Even though some people believe water is tasteless and boring, it is the healthiest option of all beverages. Curtail the acidic and sugary drinks like soda, juice, coffee, or tea! Easily add some flair and flavor to a nice cool glass of water through infusion! The fancy addition of fruits, vegetables and herbs will create the most refreshing glass of infused water.
How to Make Infused Water
It is quite simple to make infused water. “Infusion” is a fancy name to describe a process of soaking something so the flavor is absorbed into the liquid. Bright pink watermelon, red strawberries, juicy blueberries and oranges, cool cucumbers, and fresh mint grace many refrigerator shelves and fruit baskets in the summertime. Those fruits, veggies, and herbs can be put to good use, and aid in your water consumption! Make these foods an essential part of your daily hydration routine.
Add Directly to Water
Splashing sliced pieces of fruit, veggies, or herbs in a cold glass of water is one of the easiest ways to infuse water. The water will take on the taste of the chosen fruit.
Use an Infusion Pitcher or Cup
Another option for infusing water is to use an infusion pitcher or cup. Some infusion pitchers have optional inserts for fruit, tea, or ice. An infusion cup or water bottle is convenient if you are traveling or want to try a variety of infusions each day. However you decide to make infused water, a simple cup of water will go from tasting blasé to magnificent. You can also use a kettle cooker.
Types of Infused Water
The possibilities are endless and only limited by your imagination when it comes to infusing water but here are a few tried and true favorites:
- Watermelon infused water
- Cucumber and mint Infused water
- Lemon Infused water
- Cherry lime Infused water
How Long Does Infused Water Last?
Homemade infused water can last for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. It is a good idea to remove the fruit, veggies, or herbs around 24 hours, so they don’t leave the water tasting bitter instead of refreshing. This is more of a guideline than a rule because not all foods are created equal. Some veggies, like cucumbers, should be taken out sooner because they tend to get mushy. It is also important to consume the drink within a 4-hour window if it is not refrigerated.
Benefits of Infused Water
-Add nutrients to your daily water intake– Fruit and vegetables provide vitamins and minerals. They also add dietary fiber.
-Flush toxins– The kidneys use water to flush toxins from the body.
-Less Calories– Water has less calories, sugar, and chemicals than other beverages.
-Refreshing- Infused water tastes refreshing and can even curb hunger. It is a natural appetite suppressant.
Overall, infused water tastes good, is easy to make, and has many health benefits. There are several variations of fruits, vegetables, and herbs that can turn a plain old glass of water into something with a little more panache.
