How to prepare delicious water to boost daily hydration

For people with a sweet tooth, water can be a struggle. For the rest of us, it's some healthy boring liquid the doctor recommends and honestly, it can taste like medicine.

You could also be too busy to take care of your daily water intake.

One thing is for sure, we could use some motivation to drink more water!

That's where infused water comes in. 

• It is 100 per cent natural.
• It is completely safe because you make it yourself.
• You can meet your vitamins and hydration intake at once.
• Most importantly, it adds flavour to water both in taste and in look.

What is infused water?

In short, it is water mixed with cut fruit. It is unprocessed water with vitamin-antioxidant content from fruits. It is highly nutritional, boosts diet and tastes great depending on your fruit choice.

Here are some herbs, fruits, and spices you can use and combine to infuse water.

Apples, peaches, berries, rosemary, cinnamon, kiwi, mango, melon, lemon, lime, watermelon, ginger, and cayenne.

How long does it take to infuse water?

Once you have cut up your choice of ingredient(s), you can drink right away. However, the longer it sits the more flavour you will have. One to two hours at room temperature is good or three to four hours of refrigeration. Up to eight hours can create a strong flavour if you prefer that.

Beyond 12 hours, remove the ingredients and throw them away and keep the water refrigerated for up to four days.

How to recycle the used fruits

You can eat the fruits once your water is infused to taste. However, they might taste like water especially if they sat for a while or have been reused. 

How to infuse water

1. Use either cold water or room temperature water. Hot water will destroy the vitamins and enzymes in the fruits.
2. You can also use carbonated water if you prefer it.
3. Use a nice glass jar or something equally nice looking, because aesthetics help. However, any container can work as long as it doesn't leak and can be refrigerated.
4. Let the mixture sit for one to two hours at room temperature or three to four hours of refrigeration.
5. Citruses can become bitter after five or six hours so time that well.
6. You can also use frozen fruit but they won't give you a potent flavour like the fresh ones.

Other tips on how to drink more water

Fruit-infused water is a great addition to your routine, here are seven other ways you can boost your water intake.

1. Drink a full glass of water or tea a few minutes before meals.
2. Get a beautiful water bottle that makes you feel good drinking out of it. Invest in a beautiful water jar that feels good pouring out of.
3. Set a reminder on your phone. It will also get you moving about getting your physical exercise in. 
4. Other drinks like water, iced tea, tea, and coffee, also boost hydration but take more non-sweetened liquids.
5. Order water when at restaurants.
6. Listen to the colour of your pee. If your pee is dark yellow, get some water. Always aim at pale yellow or clear pee.

Takeaway

Water is important for our health but without the right attitude towards it, drinking it can be hard. Creating a personal water regimen can help in creating a habit of taking water. Get started and find your flavour.