10 Fruit-Infused Water Recipes to Help You Stay Hydrated
If drinking enough water each day is challenging for you, think about other ways you can up your intake beyond drinking plain water. According to a report by the National Academies of Sciences, the average North American gets about 20% of his or her daily water intake through food, and that counts toward healthy hydration. Increase this percentage by eating raw fruits and vegetables with high water content such as watermelon, cucumbers and strawberries. Another simple option is to drink water infused with fruit and herbs, and even some vegetables. The flavor combinations are endless and can be tailored to your tastebuds. And it’s a great way to help break up the monotony by adding just a hint of flavor without using refined sugars or artificial sweeteners. Not sure where to start? Here are a few of our favorite infused water recipes:
Blueberry Vanilla Lime
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
3 slices of fresh lime
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Watermelon Lime
1/2 cup diced watermelon
3 slices of fresh lime
For a minty kick, add 4 fresh mint leaves
Honeydew and Basil
1/2 cup diced honeydew melon
4 fresh basil leaves
Tropical Lime
1/4 cup diced pineapple
1/4 cup diced fresh mango
3 slices of fresh lime
Strawberry Kiwi
1/2 cup fresh strawberries
1 medium kiwifruit, peeled and chopped
Citrus Ginger
2 slices of fresh orange
2 slices of fresh lemon
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
Strawberry, Lemon and Basil
½ cup fresh or frozen strawberries, stemmed and sliced
3 large basil leaves, torn
3 slices of fresh lemon
Pineapple, Coconut and Lime
1/4 cup pineapple chunks, fresh or frozen
1/4 cup coconut chunks, fresh or frozen
3 slices of fresh lime
Grapefruit, Pomegranate and Mint
1/2 fresh grapefruit, thinly sliced
1/8 cup pomegranate seeds
3 mint leaves, torn
Cucumber, Celery and Lemon
1/4 cucumber, sliced
1/2 stalk fresh celery, sliced
3 slices of fresh lemon
How to Make Infused Water
There are two ways you can make each of these infused water recipes. You can combine each of the ingredients in a large cocktail shaker or blender bottle and mash them with the back of a wooden spoon or muddler. Then fill with water, shake and strain into an ice-filled glass.The other option is to use a BPA fruit infused water bottle which has a built-in chamber to keep the fruit and herbs from free-floating as you drink. Simply add the ingredients to the chamber and fill with water. For extra flavor, you may want to mash or muddle them first. To save some time, you can even make infused water the night before and leave it in the fridge or multiply the recipe to make a whole pitcher. Fruit-infused water is best if you drink it within 3 days of making it.
Contact Total HealthcareMD
For more information about nutrition and lifestyle changes you can make to help meet or even exceed your weight loss goals call Total HealthcareMD at (919) 436-3777. We’ll be happy to evaluate your situation and recommend a personalized physician-led weight loss treatment plan including how much water you should drink each day to achieve optimal results.
