Kick The Sugar: Homemade Flavoured Water
Let’s face it, drinking plain old water is a bit of a drag. But we all know that drinking water is good for us, and slugging back sugary drinks and coffee all day isn't exactly a route to optimum health. If you saw Jamie Oliver's Sugar Rush last week, you'll be aware of just how much sugar is in flavoured waters you buy from the shop - shocking! With 7 teaspoons of sugar in one bottle of branded flavoured water, it's not the healthy drink many of us thought it was.
Topping-up your water intake is one of the quickest ways to rid your body of toxins and help it feel brand-new again (especially after a few glasses of wine the night before!). So in an effort to boost my intake of H2O, I've started experimenting with making my own flavoured waters. By keeping a jug on my desk, I find I drink more without even realising. It's bursting with flavour and looks amazingly colourful too! Plus I know I'm gaining a lot of health benefits from a variety of vitamins, antioxidants, minerals and immune-boosting extras.
Here's how to make the ultimate flavoured water:
- Half fill a jug with ice cubes
- Add vitamin-rich fresh fruit such as strawberries, cucumbers (yep, this one’s a fruit), pineapple, orange slices or my personal favourite - watermelon! Add pretty much any of your favourite fruits to try different flavours (although I don’t recommend banana, for obvious reasons)
- To add a little zest and extra Vitamin C, I always squeeze a bit of lemon or lime into the jug
- I've also had some great success adding herbs. Rub mint between your hands and add to the jug, this goes particularly well with cucumber and lime juice, kind of like a healthy mojito. If not, try some basil (this goes well with strawberries), rosemary, lemon balm or a sprig of lavender. Seriously, try it!
- With a wooden spoon or other kitchen utensil fit for the job, squash all the ingredients down to release the juices and flavour
- You can drink this straight away if you can’t resist, but I find it always taste that little bit more refreshing when left to infuse in the fridge for a couple of hours. If the ice cubes have melted just add a few more and serve!
It may not seem like rocket science, but getting into the habit of making a jug of flavoured water every morning can really help you stay hydrated and give you a useful vitamin boost. You'll sure to get lots of admiring comments in the office as it looks so pretty too! If you have a favourite flavoured water combination, do let me know.
#Food & Drink #Drinks #herbs #clean eating #water #eat clean #sugar rush #herbal
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