Water is more than part of a balanced breakfast, it’s approximately 60% of our bodily makeup. Our bodies need it to do important things like normalizing blood pressure, stabilizing the heartbeat, regulating body temperature, and digesting food. As our summers continue to get hotter with more frequent heat waves, it’s crucial to stay hydrated and water is the best choice. But I shake things up by drinking fruit-infused water.
What is Fruit-Infused Water?
It’s pretty self-explanatory: water that’s infused with fruit to impart juicy flavor to your taste buds. Juicing up your water’s flavor with natural fruit does more than just make the water more appealing; it can detox and energize you. And it’s so much better for you than caffeinated drinks or sugary sodas, which are usually full of food coloring, tons of sugar, and other unhealthy additives.
How To Make Fruit-Infused Water
All you need is fresh fruit and water. But adding fresh herbs to the mix increases the flavor variety and the benefits. You can use an infusion pitcher to steep the fruit and herbs in your water, or you can add the fruit straight to your water. Let the ingredients steep in the water for a minimum of one to two hours before drinking. Drink the water at room temperature for the quickest absorption.
Here are some delicious fruit and herb combinations infusing water, including the benefits of each — in addition to keeping you hydrated, of course.
- Cucumber, lime, and lemon: This combination is optimal for bloating, appetite control, hydration, digestion, and weight management.
- Green tea, mint, and lime: Try this combo for fat burning, digestion, congestion, headaches, and freshening your breath.
- Lemon, lime, and orange: Boost your vitamin C with these ingredients. You can also sip this combination for immune defense and heartburn.
- Strawberry and kiwi: This flavorful duo is good for cardiovascular health, immune system protection, blood sugar regulation, and digestion.
- Grated ginger, cucumber, lemon, and spearmint: These are the ingredients in the popular Sassy Water, which is known for cutting fat along with increasing hydration levels. You may have heard of this recipe associated with the Flat Belly Diet. It relieves bloating and is a natural diuretic. Make it before bedtime, let it steep overnight, and drink it throughout the day.
Find more fruit-infused water tips and recipes at A Sweet Pea Chef to keep you deliciously hydrated this summer.
Originally published on June 15, 2014, this article was updated in May 2023.