Keep yourself hydrated by easily making some infused water with one of many recipes using fresh fruit, vegetables, and herbs.
Jump to RecipeWater is essential for life. The human body can only go a few days without water. Most people know that. But, what most don’t know, is they are already dehydrated. Try making some infused water when you need a tasty way to keep yourself hydrated.
Studies have shown that about 75% of Americans are considered “chronically dehydrated”. When you are dehydrated, your body is not functioning at it’s highest potential.
According to the CDC, dehydration can cause:
- unclear thinking
- mood changes
- your body to overheat
- constipation
- kidney stones
With school starting soon, and everyone’s schedule getting busier, it’s important to remember to keep yourself hydrated.
Ways to Stay Hydrated
We all know that increasing our water intake will keep our body hydrated. But what are some ways to do this?
Choose water over other drinks, especially when out to eat. This will help lower your sugar intake (better for your health overall) and lowers your bill since water is free most places.
Bring a reusable water cup with you everywhere. Fill it up at the beginning of the day and as often as needed.
Set a water goal. You can find apps that let you track your water intake and remind you when you need to drink more. Or keep a tally in your calendar to know how much you’ve had.
Increase your water intake when you increase your physical exertion or when traveling.
Keep your water close. You should have a cup of water within arms reach all day long. This makes it simple and becomes a
Infused Water
I often hear people mention that they “don’t like water.” Or, in the case of my mom, there is only one brand she will drink. The problem with this is either replacing water with something less healthy that has a negative effect or creating so many wasted plastic water bottles.
Instead, try to infuse your water with flavors. I know some will try adding essential oils into their water, but it’s strong. I’ve tried a few and they are too much for me, even diluted in a large glass of water. Also, if you are going to do this, make sure you buy good quality oils and know what you are doing.
The safest way to infuse your water with flavor is the natural way. Add in fresh fruit, vegetables, and/or herbs to get a new taste. There are so many ways to mix-and-match the flavors, you may need to experiment and find the one that’s right for you.
We tried out four different infused water flavors to give you a few ideas!
Ratio: For any infused water recipe, using about 4 cups of water for every 1 cup of infused foods seems to work well. Of course, if you want a bolder flavor, you can always adjust as needed.
Citrus
Lemon-Lime
One of the first infused water recipes we tried was lemon-lime. There are two lemons and two limes in about four cups of water. When adding the wedges, we squeezed them a bit to help release the juices.
Lemon-lime is a fairly common flavor combination. The fruit definitely added a lot of flavor to the water, but it wasn’t too overpowering, either.
Orange
The other citrus flavor we made was orange. We didn’t mix it with anything else, but had two full oranges in the water. I cut them into small wedges, and forced the pieces into a container that was built for infusing water.
Similar to the lemon-lime, this was just a hint of flavor without being too much. It added enough to make the water more drinkable to those who don’t like it plain.
Strawberry-Kiwi
This was my personal favorite. Strawberries have always been one of my preferred fruits, and the kiwi just goes so well with the taste. Again, I cut the strawberries to release the most flavor and peeled the kiwi before wedging it, too.
I prefer stronger flavors for most things, so this was a clear winner for me. The fruit adds a lot of flavor to the water, but it still isn’t too much. It’s not as strong as drinking juice, but more than plain water.
Step by Step
Cucumber Mint
The last infused water flavor we made was cucumber mint. I’ll be honest, I didn’t even try this one. I don’t like cucumbers at all, and only like subtle mint flavors. So, this one was all Justin.
Find a container for your water. You can make it in individual servings, such as in a mason jar, or make an entire pitcher’s worth of water. Either way, if it isn’t going to be drunk immediately, you want something that can be covered.
Slice the cucumber into pieces.
Muddle the mint leaves to release the oils from the herbs.
Place the cucumber and mint in a pitcher. Pour the water over top and chill in the refrigerator. Make sure to give it a stir before serving.
Recipe
Originally Published On: October 18, 2018
Last Updated On: July 12, 2019
Cucumber Mint Infused Water
Ingredients
- 1 cucumber
- 1/4 cup mint leaves
- 4 cups water
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Slice the cucumber into pieces
- Muddle the mint leaves to release the oils from the herbs
- Place the cucumber and mint in a pitcher
- Pour the water over top and chill in the refrigerator
- Make sure to give it a stir before serving
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
I like my water plain but am looking for a good filter! I am one of those that is chronically dehydrated!
I drink it plain most of the time, too. But, every now and then I need some kind of flavor.
Hydration is so important! I really struggle with getting enough water each day, but I am trying my best to change that. I love all the flavor combinations you shared here!
Me too. I just ordered myself a new water bottle since I lost my last one. It has measuring lines on the side to know how much water I drink.
I drink lots of water – to be honest that’s pretty much all I drink… will have to give infused water a try
Water is basically the only thing I drink too, it just isn’t always enough in a day. Infused water adds a bit of flavor for something different.
Im a huge fan of infused water. My favoite combo is cucumber and pineapple!
Oh, we haven’t tried that yet! I don’t like cucumber, but my husband does so I’ll have to give him the idea.
I have tried the lemon infused water but not the others. I am going to start with the cucumber mint tomorrow. I usually add mint in my iced tea, so now, I will infuse it in my water.
My husband has added mint leaves to his tea before, too. The cucumber mint is his favorite water flavor (I don’t like cucumber so I don’t drink that one).
I love infused water! It’s fun to play with different flavors. I really love the sweetness of a strawberry infused water. I’ll have to try adding the kiwi!
Me too, the sweet flavors are my preference. I tried without the kiwi and it was ok but the kiwi adds a lot of flavor to the mix for me.
So you officially made me thirsty! Im going to make my self a kiwi-strawberry water right now!
That’s my favorite of the infused water flavors! It’s a great way to keep yourself hydrated.
Such a informative read, I know some of it but the what happen to human body during that is something new to me.
I was the same when I researched. I knew a few of the basics, but not all of it. Hydration is so important for our body!
Strawberry kiwi all the way!! I love infused water, especially when fall is just starting and for some reason the city ups the chemicals in the water. It helps cover the change of flavor until it balances out and tastes proper again!
That’s my choice, too. I don’t usually drink tap water, we have a filter on the refrigerator. I haven’t heard of upping chemicals, is it because of the cold weather to keep the pipes from freezing? I’ve only ever lived in the south so that isn’t an issue here.
Infused water is the bomb! I love putting mint and lemon or strawberry and lime in the water! Strawberry and lime is by far the best flavor ever!
I haven’t tried that combination before. Sounds like it would be a sweet and tart which would be awesome!
I must admit I am the worst when it come sto hydrating. I never drink enough water and to make it worse I drink lots of coffee. Thanks for the brilliant tip, Im going to try that right away!
There are days I don’t drink enough because I get so busy I forget. But, having the flavor added makes it easier to finish a full glass at a time.
Infused water is a great way to get your daily hydration in. Also makes water taste much more nicer too xx
Hydration is so important for our bodies. Anything that makes it easier and tastier is a win for me.
Great tips, I usually drink water a lot during the day as I don’t want to get another IV drip (I got one last year because I had a high fever but I was also dehydrated.)
Yuck, that does not sound fun at all! My dad had to do it for the same reason once before.
This is such a great way to drink water especially for some of us that may find it a little challenging. Love the sound of strawberry kiwi.
A lot of people have a hard time getting enough water. Anything that makes it easier is great for the body.
I struggle with hydration, especially with a busy Mom and work life. I prefer seltzer or throwing a splash of coconut water into tap water but have also gone the infused water route on occasion. I’ve never tried the strawberry/kiwi option so that might be worth a try in the future.
There are days I am the same way. I get ready for bed and realize I’ve only had maybe one glass of water all day long. Having added flavor, whether it’s infused like this or the coconut water as you mentioned, helps because it tastes better so I drink it quicker and more often.
Water.. so needed for a healthy body. I just got my son’s to start drinking 8 glasses a day. I like water either way. But with fruit, it makes it feel like paradise. Thanks for sharing. I will certainly try a few, especially the cucumber mint.
We have days that I realize my boys haven’t drunk enough water. They actually do better in school because their water bottles are always in front of them. At home, they are in the kitchen so out of sight and out of mind.
The cucumber mint sound very refreshing. I could use a little more water!
My husband always says that’s the most refreshing of the infused water. I don’t like cucumber, so my favorite is strawberry-kiwi.
I’m always full of good intentions to drink more water but it normally doesn’t happen so this is a great idea to make water more appealing!
Me too! I just bought a new water bottle with measurements on the side to help with awareness of how much water I drink.
I sometimes go for such drinks when i don’t feel fancy enough. I normally drink still water – it is the only way for me to stop feeling thirsty, even try to find my running electrolytes tasteless. My most adventures taste option is a little lemon or a ginger or ginger lemon combo. I am boring so much unlike you. I will try your combos too
Most of the time, I drink plain water too. It just has to be cold for me so I am constantly adding ice. The flavor infusions are nice for a change now and then.
This recipe will be useful in the heat of the summer! Thanks for sharing.
You’re so right, the summer is the most important time to stay hydrated since it’s so hot out and we lose a lot of hydration when sweating.
I have to confess, Stephanie, this is something I’ve NEVER tried. The girls have been on a major cooking kick this summer, though, so I bet some of these would be fun to try with them sometime 🙂
It’s something I didn’t try much when we were out places because a lot of them have cucumber mint, and I don’t like cucumber. Once we started making our own combinations at home I was more willing to drink it.