Infused water is very refreshing and also provides additional benefits. Besides being delicious and refreshing, making infused water is fairly practical and easy.
This is what makes this drink a trend among young people and the elderly. Making infused water is simple and easy, and only requires extra patience.
Potential Benefits
Infused water is water that is the result of soaking fruits, vegetables, or spices. Unlike juice, infused water does not contain added sugar.
This type of drink also has a calorie content that is close to zero. Even so, infused water still has the flavor and nutrients from the sediment of fruit, vegetables, or spices in it.
Quoting PVAMU: College of Agriculture and Human Sciences, infused water is said to have benefits, such as:
- Control appetite
- Meets fluid needs
- Strengthen immunity
- Control blood sugar
- Help manage weight
- Also helps with daily water intake.
This is because it tastes fresh and carries nutrition from the essence of the ingredients that are soaked in it. Therefore, infused water is generally consumed in the morning to help cleanse the intestines. Consuming lots of fresh water is ultimately beneficial to help control weight.
Various Ways to Make it
All you need is water and mixed ingredients, such as fruit, vegetables, or herbs.
Here are tips and how to make it fresh and healthy :
1. Use Fresh Ingredients
The first step in how to make infused water is to first prepare the ingredients, such as:
- Tumbler or drinking bottle
- Boiled water
- Wash the fruit, vegetables, or herbs that you want to make infused water.
- The most popular fruits for making infused water include fruits that have a sour taste such as lemons, strawberries, limes, and others.
You just have to adjust to your tastes and preference.
2. Keep it in the fridge
The next way to make infused water is to store it in the fridge. Should be put inside the refrigerator to maintain the freshness of the fruit, then let it sit for at least 1 hour.
To make it more practical, you can also make it by soaking the ingredients in water and placing them in the refrigerator overnight.
Recipes
If you are interested in making infused water, here are various recipes that you can try.
1. How to Make Lime-Infused Water
Lime is one of the popular ingredients for making infused water.
Lime has various benefits for health because it is a very good source of antioxidants.
In the journal, Anticancer Activity of Key Lime, Citrus aurantifolia lime contains active compounds that function as antioxidants in the body such as flavonoids, limonoids, kaempferol, quercetin, and ascorbic acid.
In addition, lime also contains vitamins A, B, C, and D, as well as other important nutrients such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium.
Unfortunately, lime can sometimes give off a bitter taste.
So that it doesn’t taste bitter, here’s how to make that you can try at home.
Materials
- 2 limes
- 1/2 tsp honey
- Mint leaves (optional)
- 500 ml of drinking water
How to make:
- Clean the lime with running water until clean.
- Cut into desired pieces, but not too thin, and remove the seeds.
- Put the lime wedges and mint leaves in a bottle filled with water.
- Add 1/2 teaspoon of honey, or as much as you like.
- Close the bottle tightly and let it rest for 1-3 hours in the refrigerator.
- Lime-infused water should be consumed within 1 day and stored in the refrigerator.
2. How to Make Cucumber Infused Water
Another popular infused water ingredient is cucumber. Cucumber has a refreshing taste, is nutritious, and is good for any diet program. Cucumbers are low in calories and contain many important vitamins and minerals.
Citing Nutrition Data, every cup (104 grams) of cucumber contains 16 calories, while 11 ounces (300 grams) of cucumber only contain 45 calories.
Cucumber is also known to have high vitamin K and help lower blood sugar.
Are you interested in losing weight with the help of cucumber-infused water?
Here’s how to make it healthy and refreshing
Materials
- 1 cucumber
- Mint leaves (optional)
- 500 ml of drinking water
How to make:
- Wash the cucumber and mint leaves under running water until clean.
- Cut the cucumber into several slices.
- Put the cucumber slices and mint leaves into a bottle filled with water, then close it tightly.
- Leave it for 2-4 hours in the refrigerator.
- After that, stir, filter, and discard the cucumbers.
- Cucumber-infused water can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
3. How to Make Strawberry Infused Water
Strawberry is one of the most popular fruit because of its sweet and sour taste and is often used as a food ingredient such as fruit salad, pudding, juice, and a beautiful cake topping.
Besides being delicious, strawberries also have many health benefits. Strawberries contain vitamins, fiber, and high levels of antioxidants called polyphenols.
Interestingly, strawberries contain more vitamin C than oranges.
A study published by the National Library of Medicine, states that strawberries can increase the amount of HDL to control cholesterol, blood pressure, and platelet function in the blood.
If you want to maintain adequate fluid intake and at the same time get the benefits of vitamin C as well as other important nutrients from strawberries.
Here’s how to make it at home.
Materials
- 3 strawberries (or according to taste)
- 500 ml of drinking water
How to make:
- Wash the strawberries under running water until clean.
- Cut the strawberries in half, then add some of the water to the glass.
- Press the strawberries with a spoon so that the juice and taste come out.
- Transfer the water from the glass along with the sliced strawberries into the bottle, then close it tightly.
- Store in the refrigerator for 6-8 hours or overnight.
- Filter the infused water and discard the strawberries, preferably using them in a day or storing it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
4. How to Make Lemon Infused Water
The most popular and well-known fruit for its benefits commonly use as infused water is lemon. Lemons are rich in vitamin C and other important nutrients.
There are many benefits of lemon for health if consumed regularly, among which is that lemon can nourish the heart, control weight, and prevent kidney stones.
Quoting from the Healthline page, lemon water can increase hydration in the body.
Adding lemon can enhance the taste of the water to make it fresher, which can help you or a family member drink more.
The way to make it at home is very easy, namely:
Materials
- 1/2 lemon (or according to taste)
- Asking for leaves (optional)
- 500 ml of drinking water
How to make:
- Wash the lemons thoroughly with running water.
- Slice the lemon into several pieces.
- You can also peel the lemons first so that the infused water doesn’t taste bitter.
- Put the lemon slices into a bottle filled with boiled water, then close it tightly.
- Store in the fridge for about 2-4 hours.
- Then filter and discard the lemon wedges.
- Serve with fresh lemon wedges as a garnish.
- Lemon-infused water can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
5. How to Make Pineapple Infused Water
You can also make pineapple-infused water for those who love pineapple. The benefits of infused water from pineapple are no less great than other fruits.
This fruit with a sweet, slightly sour taste is one of the fresh fruits that are easily available in traditional markets and supermarkets.
Even though the taste is sometimes sour, this fruit is rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, and manganese. All three are good for fighting cell damage and keeping bones and connective tissue strong.
In addition, the core of the pineapple fruit is also rich in bromelain enzymes, which can break down proteins that are useful to aid digestion.
This bromelain can also help reduce mucus in the throat and nose, so it is suitable for consumption by those who are suffering from coughs and colds.
Materials
- 1/4 pineapple
- 10–12 mint leaves (optional)
- 500 ml of drinking water
How to make:
- Clean the pineapple, peel it, and slice it thinly.
- The thinner it feels, it can seep into the water better.
- Prepare a glass or bottle, and fill it with pineapple slices until it reaches half of its size.
- Add 10–12 mint leaves (opt) along with pineapple slices, then stir gently.
- Then, add boiled water to the glass, and stir again slowly.
- Store it in the refrigerator for 4-5 hours, if you have enough, you can enjoy it immediately.
6. How to Make Kiwi-Infused Water
If you have the flu, kiwi-infused water can be an alternative. This is because kiwi is rich in vitamin C which can improve immunity. In addition, kiwi is rich in vitamin E which is good for skin health.
Materials
- 1 bottle of drinking water
- 1 kiwifruit
- 1 medium size lemon
- 10-15 mint leaves
How to make:
- Slice the lemon and kiwi, and squeeze the mint leaves to release the aroma and taste.
- Put everything in a bottle filled with drinking water.
- Store in the refrigerator for a minimum of 6 hours and a maximum of 24 hours.
- Fruits and mint leaves can be reused (1-time refill).
- Drink when it’s cold and during the day when it’s really hot.
7. How to Make Date Infused Water
According to Healthline, date-infused water is known as detox water because it can remove toxins from the body.
In addition, infused water is believed to balance the body’s pH, and boost the immune system to reduce weight.
Materials
- 11 dates
- sufficient water
How to make:
- Prepare 11 dates.
- Remove the date seeds and put them in a drinking bottle.
- Add water. Then let stand for 8-12 hours, and drink immediately after 8-12 hours.
8. How to Make Mango Infused Water
Mango-infused water is no less delicious to try. The sour and sweet taste that becomes one, makes this taste fresher. Add mint leaves to make this drink taste more delicious.
Materials
- 2 sprigs of fresh organic mint
- 1/2 mango
How to make:
- Cut the mango skin and divide it into several parts as desired.
- Pick enough mint leaves.
- Mix mint and mango with water.
- Leave for 3-4 hours at room temperature or 6 hours in the refrigerator.
- Ready to enjoy!
Apart from those already mentioned, you can also use other fruits or vegetables as you wish. Some ingredients are also delicious when added aromatic leaves, such as mint, basil, or rosemary. Infused water can also be a way to get your little one to drink water more often.
