Any article on dieting and healthy eating you read, inevitably you will find something in there pertaining to the encouragement of drinking water. It helps fill your stomach, making you feel full and reducing your overall calorie intake. silences dehydration disguised as hunger pangs; It is known to regulate body temperature and lubricate joints, helping give a bit of boost to the metabolism. and it flushes out excess sodium which if you leave unchecked, ironically causes, water retention. Water is good for you.

Water can also be boring. It’s recommended to take in at least six full glasses of the liquid elixir on a daily basis, but plain water is just sometimes hard to choke down. Fortunately, there are some great options to make water more enticing and exciting.

Option 1 = Admit it, you like carbonation. It wasn’t just the sugar in the sodas that made you smile. On the market today there are some great “fizzy” waters, better known as “seltzers” with flavors infused right in them. Brands like Waterloo and Bubly have a large line of flavorful sparkling waters with zero calories at a reasonable cost.

Option 2 = Infuse some flavor in your plain water! The natural flavors of fruits, herbs and other botanicals helps you hit that water goal every day. There are a few things to keep in mind with this method.

1 – Never use dried/dehydrated herbs/fruits/vegetables. You will not get the full flavor from these. Always use fresh and try to get the organic if possible. It goes without saying (but I’ll say it anyway), wash produce and rinse herbs to remove chemicals, pesticides and other residues.

2 – Always use cold or room temperature filtered water. Filtering the water will maximize your infused water flavors. Using hot water makes produce fall apart quicker and can compromise the nutrients you are hoping to get out of it.

3 – chop fruit or vegetables and tear the leafy bits of herbs to release the oils.

4 – Fill your container ( jug, glass jar, water bottle ), about 1/3 full of your solid ingredients and the rest with water.

5 – Soak (steep) for 2-4 hours at room temperature or you can soak overnight in the refrigerator.

6 – after the soak, squeeze the solid bits against the side of the container with a spoon to release the last of the flavor and then shake it vigorously (don’t forget to put a lid on it!)

8 – Gradually pour the water from one container into another (referred to as decanting) and filter out your solid pieces. A small fine screen mesh strainer or coffee filter will work well for this step.

9 – Store filtered water in the refrigerator for up to three days. OR you can pour the water into ice trays and have infused ice cubes.

Some interesting combinations to try :

Cucumber and Mint

Parsley and Celery

Ginger and Lemon or Honey

Raspberry and Mint

Celery (with pieces and torn celery leaves)

Watermelon and Basil

Watermelon, Kiwi, and Lime

Blueberry and Orange

Lime, Ginger, and Basil

Lemon, Raspberry, and Rosemary (or blueberries in season)

Grapefruit, Pomegranate, and Mint

Lime, Coconut, and Pineapple

Mango and Ginger

Strawberry and Kiwi

Blackcurrant and Lemon

Pear and Fennel

Lemon and Thyme

Orange, Guava, and Mint

There are so many different things you can try, these are just a few suggestions. Be inventive, find a combination that is uniquely your own!

Happy Drinking!