Endorsed by the likes of Miranda Kerr and Khloé Kardashian, detox water is an efficient way to turn your regular glass of aqua into a vitamin-packed drink. Choose from a range of fruits, berries, herbs, spices and even vegetables to create diverse mixes and flavor palettes. Before you reach for that pitcher, here's everything you need to know about hydrating in style.
Prepare In a pitcher, bottle or mason jar, add water, ice and your selection of fruits (lemon, orange, grapefruit or cucumber) and herbs (basil, fennel or mint) and you're set. The time that the ingredients require to release their flavour can vary from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on your mix and the prevailing weather conditions. Citrus fruits impart flavour almost immediately, while herbs need to sit in the water a bit longer. If you don't plan on consuming the water immediately, refrigerate it.
Store Given the weather conditions in India, it is advisable to consume herb water within an hour or two if kept at room temperature. If refrigerated, it is safe to sip for up to 24 hours.
Benefits Infused water not only helps keep hydration levels in check, it also makes the idea of drinking water less of a chore. Regular intake of infused water reduces binge eating (thus calories). Celebrity fitness trainer Yasmin Karachiwala recommends infused water as the perfect beverage after a workout or any exhausting activity. “I prefer giving my kids infused water rather than plain water or any artificially flavoured drinks after they're done playing sports. The little salt or sugar in it immediately gives you an energy boost as compared to regular water,” she says.
Spice Up Herbs and spices are always a tasteful addition to your drinks—be it a co*cktail at a party or a water bottle at the gym. Basil, thyme, cinnamon and clove, to name a few, add an extra punch to your water when paired with fruits and they also have added health benefits. Nutritionist and fitness writer Samreedhi Goel encourages the consumption of herb-infused water. “Every herb has a different benefit—thyme helps lower blood pressure, cinnamon reduces blood glucose levels and fresh ginger helps in digestion. Adding such herbs and spices to your water can give you the daily required dosage,” she adds.
Building Blocks Citrus fruits are the mostcommonly used ingredients in flavoured water; however, berries are a good option too. Use seasonal fruits as they provide a fuller flavour. Of the fruit combinations that work best, nutritionist Madhuri Ruia says, “Lemon and lime are always a good idea as they help cleanse the liver of toxins. It is refreshing and tastes good, which increases your intake of antioxidants.”
