Bottoms Up to Infused Water

This week we continue to cleanse and rejuvenate by sharing some great ideas to encourage you to drink more water.

Up to 60% of the human adult body is water. According to H.H. Mitchell, Journal of Biological Chemistry 158, the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, and the lungs are about 83% water. The skin contains 64% water, muscles and kidneys are 79%, and even the bones are watery: 31%. — https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water

We always feel better when we drink more water, but we face the issue that many non-water drinkers face. We need more flavor! There was a time when Craig worked for a water company that sold flavored water and we drank a lot of it. When he changed companies our habits changed too. But in 2022 we are going to drink more! Our solution is to add some flavor to God’s perfect liquid. Here’s how we do it.

Choose any fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs that you like to combine for a flavorful water. We have tried single ingredients and ingredient combos. Slice or dice up your ingredients and place in a container with ice. Containers that can be used are water bottle, pitcher, mason jar or a carafe. ( We like to be fancy and treat ourselves, so we used the carafe.) Fill the container with filtered water and let it sit for 2-4 hours to give the flavors time to mix.

Here are some helpful hints for successfully infusing water.

Use cold water rather than hot water. Hot water breaks down the fresh fruits and herbs quicker.
When using citrus ingredients, the rind makes the water tastes bitter after 10-12 hours.
Most waters can be kept fresh in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
Make the night before and fill up your water bottle before heading to work in the morning.

There are lots of great flavor combinations or you can be adventurous and try your own! We made Blueberry/Orange/Rosemary.

Lemon/ Strawberry
Lemon/Strawberry/Mint
Cucumber/Mint
Blueberry/Orange/ Ginger
Watermelon/Basil
Cherry/Lime
Cranberry/Mint (This combination is great for the holidays.)
Pomegranate/Basil
Strawberry/Basil
Jalapeno/Cucumber/Lime
Cinnamon

We have found that using infused water for entertaining is a perfect idea to keep the mood festive while still providing guests with a water option. Serve the water in a fancy cocktail glass to highlight the occasion.