So next time you reach for a sports or caffeinated drink, think about the benefits fruit water can give you instead. Fruit-infused water is super low in calories and packed with antioxidants and nutrients, and it’s all natural.
When you’re trying to get healthy, staying hydrated is one of the most important aspects, so make some fruit-infused water ahead of time and suck down these delicious drinks all day long.
Benefits of fruit infused water
– Improves your mood
– Keeps you hydrated
– Boosts metabolism
– Helps you maintain a healthy weight if you opt for fruit water instead of sugary drinks
– Gives your body more energy through the vitamins in the fruit
– Soothes stomach problems (citrus- and mint-infused water)
– Satisfies sweet tooth cravings
– Flushes toxins from your system
– Fills you up
– Helps your body release fat cells for water weight loss
– Keeps other food moving through your system due to fruit’s fiber content
– Keeps your organs healthy while you’re sweating
– Reduces muscle fatigue while you’re working out
– Helps you recuperate faster post-workout
– Keeps your energy up in the afternoon
Recipe ideas:
1. Cucumber citrus water
This fresh-fruit-infused drink will energize you, boost your metabolism and even settle your stomach. Packed with lime, cucumber, grapefruit and fresh mint, this drink will also keep you hydrated and refreshed.
Ingredients
• Lemon ( Lemons are natural energizers plus it kick starts that metabolism )
• Lime ( natural energizers helps your metabolism )
• Grapefruit – ( natural energizers with a bit of sweetness)
• Cucumber ( Helps give the drink an extremely refreshing taste ( it is pretty addicting) )
• Fresh Mint ( Helps your breath and helps you tummy work better)
• Ice
• Water
Instructions
1. In a glass – combine water and ice ( about ¾th of the glass)
2. Add lemon, lime, grapefruit, cucumber and mint till the drink is full
3. For my mason jar I used 2 full slices of lemon, 1 slice of grapefruit, 2 small slices of lime ,3 slices of cucumber and 6 mint leaves
4. Stir and left sit for 5 minutes ( keep the ingredients in the drink while you enjoy it)
2. Apple cinnamon water
Apples and cinnamon boost the metabolism, so combining them in some nice, crisp cold water you can sip on all day will do your body a whole lot of good. Johns of Lose Weight by Eating explains that apples are rich in vitamins C and B, and the phytonutrients and antioxidants in apples might reduce your risk of developing cancer, hypertension, diabetes and heart disease. Cinnamon is also packed with amazing benefits, such as lowering cholesterol and fighting diabetes.
Ingredients:
• 1 Apple thinly sliced, I like Fuji but pick your favorite. Cut away the seeds.
• 1 Cinnamon Stick. I don’t recommend using powdered cinnamon, it clogs the water.
Get started:
1. Drop apple slices in the bottom of the pitcher (save a few to drop in your glass later) and then the cinnamon stick.
2. Cover with ice about 1/2 way through then with water. Place in the fridge for 1 hour before serving.
3. You can refill the container 2-3 times before it begins to lose flavor.
3. Strawberry, citrus, cinnamon water
To curb cravings for sweets, and keep your complexion nice and clear, Blogilates Designs suggests this strawberry-citrus-cinnamon water. The lemon aids digestion, the cinnamon manages your blood sugar levels and satisfies your cravings, and the strawberries are packed with skin-healthy properties like biotin and antioxidants.
Ingredients:
– 1/2 small lemon sliced
– 1 strawberry sliced
– 1/4 apple sliced
– a few fresh mint leaves
– 1/4 tsp of cinnamon
– 24 oz of ice cold water
4. Blueberry orange water
Blueberries are packed with antioxidants and fiber and are even said to help reduce your chances of developing a urinary tract infection (UTI). Oranges are packed with that citrus flavor that is so good in water, but without all the pucker and sourness of lemons or limes. Plus, oranges give you all the vitamin C your body is craving.
Ingredients
• 6 cups water
• 2 mandarin oranges,cut into wedges
• a handful of blueberries
• ice
Directions
1. Combine all ingredients in a pitcher and put in the fridge for 2-24 hours to allow the water to infuse.
2. You can also squeeze in the juice of one mandarin orange and muddle the blueberries to intensify flavor a bit.
3. Serve cold.
5. Mango ginger water
This fruit water recipe isn’t as widely popular as the rest, and that’s why we think it’s a great little health secret. Mangoes and ginger are incredible for boosting your metabolism, but they also have some amazing healing properties.
Ginger is a natural pain reliever, and it helps reduce morning and motion sickness, as well as helps treat heart burn. Johns of Lose Weight by Eating also points out that mangoes promote healthy digestion, boost memory and even increase your sex drive.
It’s getting easier to infuse water as more infusion products are available in stores. Big infusion pitchers or individual infusion water bottles with a place to put fruits or vegetables can be found at your local supermarket. If you don’t want to break the bank, you can use a mason jar and strain out the fruit and vegetable pieces left in the water.
These can be stored in airtight glasses, simply in a mason jar, glass pitcher, water bottle, gallon jug, etc. Whatever works for you. Best kept in the refrigerator for up to a week or until the flavor is no longer present.
source: http://www.healthyfoodplace.com
