Drinking water not only quenches your thirst but also adds significant health benefits to your body. While it’s recommended to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day, staying hydrated can often be neglected, especially as we grow older.
Dehydration can happen to anyone in various weather conditions, and here are some signs to drink more water:
- Urine is darker than a pale, straw color (Note: Vitamin B12 darkens urine)
- Muscle cramps
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Impaired memory and concentrationConstipation
Staying hydrated is important to maintaining a high quality life. By drinking more water, you may experience these benefits:
- Skin complexion improvement
- Energy and brain focus increased
- Digestive system regularity
- Muscle cramp prevention
- Natural headache remedy
- Weight loss promotion
While water alone provides great health benefits, adding fruit and herbs to infuse your water allows you to drink a flavorful beverage that is packed with antioxidants rather than refined sugar and chemicals found in sweetened beverages.
Below are some infused water ideas to try. For all of these recipes, add all listed ingredients into a pitcher, or customize them to your liking and enjoy!
Infused Water with Strawberry, Lemon, and Basil (lasts 2-3 days)
Ingredients:
- 5 cups of water
- 1 cup of ice (optional)
- 1/2 cup of fresh/frozen strawberries, sliced
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced
- 7 basil leaves, torn to release their oils
Infused Water with Cucumber, Grapefruit, and Mint (lasts 2-3 days)
Ingredients:
- 5 cups of water
- 1 cup of ice (optional)
- 1 small pink grapefruit, sliced
- 1 medium cucumber, sliced
- 6-7 mint leaves, torn to release their oils
Infused Water with Blackberry and Sage (lasts 2-3 days)
Ingredients:
- 5 cups of water
- 1 cup of ice (optional)
- 1 cup of blackberries
- 6-7 sage leaves, torn to release their oils
With these ideas and the countless combinations of fruits and herbs to infuse your water, the possibilities are endless! Try infusing your water to add more flavor and health benefits as you hydrate yourself.