Health benefits of infused waters

Spice up bland water for rejuvenation 

Water is essential for us and although it’s great to drink it in its pure and natural state, there are some benefits from adding other ingredients to your water. We all know making sure your body is well hydrated is vital – good hydration helps your kidneys function properly, aids weight loss, boosts your metabolism, and helps you maintain high energy levels.  But by adding fruits and herbs to your water, trainer Dominika Brooks said you can also include essential vitamins and minerals. Not to mention this actually increases your chances of drinking your daily recommended water intake.


Brooks said to not be tempted to buy flavored waters from the supermarket shelves, though because most contain preservatives, artificial sweeteners, colors, dextrose, high fructose corn syrup, and refined sugar.

“Instead, make your own infusions at home – it’s really very easy,” she said. “Simply add fresh fruit, fragrant fresh herbs, and spices to filtered water and put it in the fridge. Try different combinations to find the taste you like. You’ll be surprised how much better and fresher they taste than pop or fruit drinks.”

Here are some classic flavored water ideas to get you underway:

Lemon water
It is one of the easiest and most drank flavored water. Just freshly squeezed lemon juice to lukewarm water. Brooks and many nutritionists recommend drinking it first thing in the morning because it wakes up your internal organs. Drinking lemon water helps balance ph, boosts your immune system, aids digestion, and weight loss, as well as stimulating your liver. It also provides you with a great dose of vitamin C.

Lemon and cucumber 
Mix 10 cups of water in a pitcher with one cucumber and one lemon, thinly sliced and 1/4 cup of fresh finely chopped basil leaf and 1/3 of finely chopped fresh mint leaves. Leave in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

Strawberry, raspberry, and blueberry water
Take a handful of strawberries, raspberries and blueberries, then add the filtered water and let it sit for 30 minutes. Refrigerate and enjoy. This water’s full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals and is a favorite for summer time  especially.

Parsley water
Take a bunch of parsley and cut it in small pieces and put it in a pot. Pour on fresh water and boil for 10 minutes. Let it cool down and then filter it and pour into a clean bottle. Then put it inside refrigerator to cool.

Here are some more specialized infused waters for targeted areas of the body:

For digestion — Fennel and Citrus
First, infuse 1 to 3 grams of dried and crushed fennel in 150 ml of boiling water for 5-10 minutes. Allow to cool.
Mix 10 cups of water in a pitcher, add lemon juice (put the leftover lemon in the mix) and a small thinly sliced orange and 12 fresh chopped mint leaves and the infusion of fennel seeds. Leave in refrigerator overnight before serving.

The antioxidant — Blackberry and Sage
Mix 10 cups of water in a pitcher with 1 cup of blackberries that have been very slightly crushed and 3-4 sage leaves. Leave in refrigerator overnight before serving.

The tropical — Watermelon and Rosemary
Mix 10 cups of water in a pitcher with 1 cup of watermelon cut into cubes and 2 rosemary stems. Leave in refrigerator overnight before serving.

The exotic — Pineapple and Mint
Mix 10 cups of water in a pitcher with 1 cup of pineapple cut into cubes and 12 fresh mint leaves finely chopped. Leave in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

The traditional — Apple and Cinnamon
Mix 10 cups of water in a pitcher with 1 cup of apple cut into cubes and 2 cinnamon sticks and 2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Leave in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

The zinger — Ginger and Tea
First, heat 1 teaspoon of ginger in two cups of tea, let it cool. Then, mix 10 cups of water in a pitcher with two cups of the ginger tea and 4-5 pieces of fresh ginger cut into cubes. Leave in the refrigerator overnight before serving.