Confessions of an infused water junkie
You know you have to hydrate all throughout the day, but you get bored with plain water. I am a reluctant water drinker, but I have turned into a water junkie overnight. How? I am having fun infusing my water with herbs, fresh fruits, and raw vegetables! It’s really yummy and allows me to drink my water constantly all day.
I prepare a whole pitcher of infused water every night, allowing the herb, fruit, and vegetables to soak overnight before indulging the following day. People everywhere, including strangers, ask me for the recipe so I decided to gather as many as I can.
Right now my favorite is Prevention’s original bloat-beating Sassy Water recipe.
Cynthia Sass, the nutrition head of Prevention, concocted this infused drink to jumpstart the flat belly program she developed. Here’s Cynthia’s Sassy Water recipe:
Combine 2 liters of water (about 8-1/2 cups), 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger, a medium cucumber thinly sliced, a medium lemon thinly sliced, and 12 mint leaves (peppermint, spearmint or your favorite mint variety) in a pitcher. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Consume all by the end of the day. Make a fresh batch every night.
Prevention, in its website, shares more infused water recipes:
• Watermelon, cilantro, and cantaloupe water. Mix 1 cup watermelon cubes, 1 cup cantaloupe cubes, 4 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro and 2 tablespoons raw honey with 1 liter of water. Place in the fridge overnight before serving. Serve chilled with ice cubes.
• Celery, lime, and grape water. You can also try this with sparkling instead of still water. Place three diced celery stalks, juice of 1 lime, 2 cups of halved red grapes, and 2 tablespoons of raw honey in a liter of water. Stir and chill overnight. Serve with ice cubes.
• Strawberry Basil Blast. Combine eight scrunched fresh basil leaves with three cups of halved strawberries and gently muddle with a wooden spoon or spatula in a pitcher with 2 liters of water. Refrigerate overnight.
• Mango Mojito. Scrunch 6 mint sprigs to release their flavor. Combine them with 3 cups cubed mango and 2 thinly sliced limes; gently muddle with a wooden spoon or spatula in a pitcher of two liters of water.
• Cucumber Quencher. Scrunch six mint sprigs to release flavor. Combine eight cups of water with 2 thinly sliced cucumbers and 4 thinly sliced limes.
• Pineapple Potion. Stir together 4 cups pineapple chunks, 10 slices fresh ginger, and 8 glasses of water. Refrigerate overnight.
Celebrated Dr. Mehmet Oz, in his website www.doctoroz.com, likewise shared some water infusion recipes.
“Many women suffer from uncomfortable bloating. Whether caused by eating too much salt or a hormonal fluctuation like menstruation, water-rich foods, such as lemon and cucumber, can bust bloat,” he claims.
Combine 3 liters of water with 2 thinly sliced lemons, half cucumber thinly sliced and 10 to 12 mint leaves. Let it brew overnight and drink warm the next day.
“Need a spa day? This fruity infused water is more than just refreshing — it can help you relax. Sage has been used in aromatherapy for relaxation for years. This drink is the perfect way to unwind at the end of a long day,” Dr. Oz says.
Combine 1-1/2 cups of water with 1/4 cup crushed strawberries, 1/4 cup crushed pineapple and 1 sage leaf. Put in the freezer. Drink cold.
“This drink is packed with metabolism boosters that will help you lose weight fast! Just one cup of green tea is enough to jump-start your metabolism, while tangerines stimulate the genes that help burn fat and mint adds calorie-free flavors. Delicious and fat-burning, this drink is the best of both worlds.”
In a large pitcher, mix 8 cups brewed green tea with 1 sliced tangerine, and a handful of mint leaves. Stir the concoction in the evening so all the flavors fuse together overnight. Drink 1 pitcher daily for maximum metabolism-boosting results.
Drink up and enjoy!
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Post me a note at mylene@goldsgym.com.ph or mylenedayrit@gmail.com.
