If you’ve been trying to give up soda, infused water makes an excellent replacement. Not only does water quench your thirst better than soda, but it also offers more health benefits. However, some people don’t enjoy plain water because it doesn’t seem too appetizing since it lacks flavor.
Infused water makes the perfect antidote for eliminating soda because it includes delicious, fresh fruits bursting with flavor. You can use any combination of fresh fruits and herbs, but we’ll get you started with a few ideas.
You can either make a whole pitcher or add the ingredients to a small glass. Alternatively, you could pour it into a mason jar to save for later. Without further ado, let’s get to the recipes!
6 Benefits of Drinking Infused Water
Drinking water with fruit and other healthy ingredients mixed in is highly beneficial to your overall health. It’s better than other flavoring and provides many essential vitamins and nutrients.
1. Prevents Dehydration
Water is essential for hydration, and it promotes the transport of oxygen and nutrients throughout your body. It helps regulate body temperature, lubricates joints, energizes your muscles, and aids other essential bodily functions. Without water, you will become dehydrated, preventing the benefits and triggering health issues, including:
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Reduced urine production
- Mental confusion
- Seizures
- Weakness and fatigue
- Dizziness or fainting
- Increased heart rate
2. Improved Immune Function
Without enough liquid, the toxins build up and weaken the immune system and hinder its functionality. Drinking water can help eliminate toxins, including bacteria that cause disease. It can also circulate lymph, a clear liquid that cleans tissue and drains waste, through arteries, lymph vessels, and nodes.
Additionally, the nutrients in the fruits, herbs, and other healthy ingredients offer an additional boost. With more nutrients in your body, you’re less likely to catch a cold or the flu. Plus, it helps your body fight off other illnesses and diseases.
3. Improves Food Digestion
Water improves food digestion, alleviating issues and preventing new problems from arising. It softens the food, making nutrient absorption easier in the intestine.
Drinking soda, coffee, or tea can cause constipation as it dehydrates your body. The lack of water makes it harder to pass stool, making you uncomfortable and causing health issues.
4. Improves Mental Health
Drinking water improves mood and concentration, benefitting your overall mental health. Dehydration can cause mental health issues, lack of focus, and irritability, so infused water is highly beneficial. It helps you reach a stable mood, helping you find joy in your daily life.
Drinking water also increases your energy levels, so forgo the caffeine when you feel tired mid-day. With more energy, you’ll be less likely to reach for unhealthy sugar-filled snacks.
5. Promotes Weight Loss
Replacing soda with infused water promotes weight loss as you eliminate sugary drinks. Drinking more water will reduce your sugar and carb intake, allowing you to achieve your goals. It makes you feel full, too, leading to less snacking and overeating.
Hydration also boosts your metabolism, burning more calories throughout the day. Studies show that it boosts your metabolism by nearly 30% within 10 minutes, and the benefits can last for more than an hour. If you’re always drinking water, your metabolism will always work harder.
Additionally, your body uses water to remove stored fat cells. Drinking water also makes you feel energized, so you’ll be more likely to exercise and stay active.
6. Helps You Reach Your Vitamin and Nutrient Requirements
When you put ingredients in your water, some of the vitamins and nutrients go into the water that you consume. As you drink, you consume essential nutrients, allowing you to reach your daily recommended values. The vitamins you drink depend on your chosen ingredients, so each recipe differs in nutrient content.
If you know that you’re deficient in specific nutrients, you can customize your water to help. Determine the ingredients that have the properties you need and enjoy the nutritional benefits.
How to Make Your Own Infused Water at Home
What you’ll need:
- A pitcher or glass
- Ice
- Your desired ingredients
- A spoon to stir the ingredients with
7 Delicious Infused Water Recipes
Replacing soda with infused water is highly beneficial. Try these flavorful concoctions, and you won’t even miss the unhealthy soda.
1. Thyme Grapefruit Lime Water
Get out your pitcher or glass, and fill it halfway with ice. Place a couple of slices of grapefruit, four slices of lime, and a handful of fresh thyme inside.
Push the thyme down with a spoon to make it fit, then pour filtered water on top. Stir with a straw or long spoon, and enjoy!
Benefits
Thyme has been used in holistic medicine for thousands of years. It contains tons of vitamin C, potassium, and manganese, as well as anti-inflammatory compounds.
Grapefruit is rich in Vitamin C and A and contains a high number of antioxidants. Finally, limes are high in Vitamin C and antioxidants, as well, to help boost immunity.
2. Basil apple ginger water
To make this infused water, fill a pitcher halfway with ice once again. Add four or five slices of green apple cut lengthwise to create thin circles.
Next, add a handful of fresh ginger shavings and 7-8 basil leaves. Fill the pitcher up with water, and stir with a straw. This infused water will revitalize you while giving you an immunity boost!
Benefits
Basil is high in Vitamin K, which helps keep bones healthy and heals wounds faster. Apples contain tons of fiber, Vitamin C, and polyphenols, a powerful antioxidant compound. Research proves that ginger is perhaps one of the most powerful roots on the planet, helping lower inflammation and ward off disease.
3. Strawberry Blueberry Mint Infused Water
For this one, repeat the steps above with the ice and pitcher. Add in a couple of handfuls of strawberry slices and a few handfuls of blueberries.
Pour in your water, and top off with a couple of mint leaves. You won’t miss soda after trying this one!
Benefits
Strawberries are rich in Vitamin C and B9, manganese, and potassium. Blueberries have a lot of Vitamins C and K, and they also contain manganese.
Both of these berries boost cognitive ability and boost antioxidant levels also. Finally, mint helps relieve indigestion, improve brain function, and ward off colds.
4. Lavender Lemon Water
After filling the pitcher or glass with ice, add 4-5 slices of lemon. Next, top it off with a couple of small handfuls of fresh lavender. Stir your drink and enjoy!
Benefits
Lavender can reduce stress and insomnia. Lemons are a good source of Vitamin C and help improve digestion.
5. Cucumber Mint Lemon Infused Water
Cut up half a cucumber into thin slices, and then do the same with half a lemon. Next, fill the glass, mason jar, or pitcher with ice.
Now, put your cucumber and lemon slices in with a small handful of mint leaves. Fill your glass with water and let your taste buds dance!
Benefits
Half a cucumber contains about 30% of your RDI of Vitamin K, plus it improves digestion and hydration. For mint and lemon, refer to the benefits listed above.
6. Green Tea Lemon Mint Water with Honey
This infused water recipe is like a cup of green tea, but cold and with the addition of mint. It still has the same benefits as a warm mug of tea but is refreshing on a hot day.
To make this, follow the same routine with the ice, and then add your ingredients. Put in 5-6 slices of lemon, a handful of mint, and a few sprinkles of green tea leaves.
Pour your water into the glass, and then drizzle honey over the top. Stir thoroughly to ensure the honey gets mixed in.
Benefits
Green tea is perhaps one of the healthiest beverages on the planet. It contains many bioactive compounds that prevent cell damage and reduce inflammation.
Plus, it improves metabolism and brain function and lowers the risk of certain cancers. Honey is a powerful antibacterial and anti-inflammatory food, and many cultures use it as medicine.
7. Lemon Grapefruit Orange Water with Rosemary
This infused water will make you pucker your lips from the tartness, but it’s packed with nutrients! To make it, cut an orange, pink grapefruit, and lemon into thin slices. Fill your pitcher up halfway with ice.
Put three lemon slices, two oranges, and three large grapefruit slices into the jar or glass. Next, add a few generous sprigs of rosemary. Fill with water, and let your body soak up the healing benefits from this infused water.
Benefits
Oranges are most well-known for their high Vitamin C content. They also have a fair amount of calcium and help your body make collagen, which gives you smooth skin. Rosemary is high in manganese, helping the body heal wounds faster and improve metabolism.
Final Thoughts: These infused water recipes will keep you healthy and hydrated
Let’s face it – water can taste pretty boring after drinking it every single day of your life. Since we have to drink it to survive, why not make it a little more exciting? Adding fresh fruits, roots, and herbs to your water can spice up your life in a small but noticeable way. Best of all, there are virtually endless combinations to try so that you’ll never get bored!
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