Better than Bottled Water

I am always amazed at how little water humans consume, especially considering that the human body is between 60-70% water. The hard fact is that water is water and so beverages like soda, fruit juice, coffee do not really count toward the body's daily water requirement.

Many people under estimate the impact water has on their energy levels, their metabolism, and their over all health. For optimal health, it is essential to consume at least 80 oz of water per day while reducing and eventually eliminating some of the less-than-ideal beverages. Studies have shown that people will consume more water if it is flavored and if it is colder than room temp. I have a couple of simple, healthy ways to flavor your water.


Reduce: fruit juice
Reduce or eliminate: sugary drinks like Gatorade, lemonade, or kool-aid; alcohol, coffee, black teas
Eliminate: soda & energy drinks

Flavored Water: Take a pitcher of good water (i.e. Reverse Osmosis) add to it any of the following:
Fresh berries - raspberries, strawberries, etc.
Sliced citrus - lemon, lime, orange, tangerine, etc
Other fruits - watermelon cubes, cantaloupe cubes, fresh pineapple, fresh sliced peaches,
Vegetables - cucumber slices
Fresh herbs - lemongrass, mint

What can you create? Anything goes. You can choose just one item or multiple items. I enjoy a combination of lemon, lime and orange. Watermelon water is hard to beat. Cucumber & lemongrass is refreshing too. Store the pitcher of healthy flavored water in the refrigerator.

Healthy Iced Tea: Take a large sun tea jar. Fill with good water. Place any flavor of HERBAL tea bags in the water and steep in the sun. When finished steeping place in the refrigerator. I find that this is great without any added sweeteners. (For a faster version - boil water in a large pot, add tea bags and steep on the stove. Then pour the tea into a pitcher or tea jar and put in fridge.

The benefits of making your own flavored water verses buying flavored water is first, you'll spend a fraction of the amount of money making it yourself, second these homemade waters have real nutrients in them (nothing artificial or controversial) which comes from the fruits, vegetables or herbs themselves, third you'll be using pure water - 3 out of 4 bottled waters are really just tap water - what a scam!

Drink to your health!

Melissa Guthrie
BSc Nutritional Science
BSc Exercise Physiology
ACE Certified Personal Trainer/Group Fitness Instructor
New Leaf Certified Metabolic Technician
Triathlete/Runner
Healthy Cooking Enthusiast