I have always struggled with consuming the right amount of water daily. However, a fewyears ago, a friend of mine stopped by my office and offered me a bag full of wonderfulorganic herbs from her garden, including mint. She bragged about how adding mint toher drinking water increased her water consumption daily …I tried it and I love it! Now Iinfuse my water with mints, berries, and lemons daily.
According to Dr. Robert Parker, BS, DC (Parker Health Solutions), “There are threeessential elements necessary for our bodies to sustain life. In order of necessity, theyare air or oxygen, water, and nutrition from food. Proper hydration is critical formaintaining health on a cellular level. Every cell in the human body is reliant on waterfor proper function.” The USDA explains, “Whether drunk from the tap or a bottle oreaten in foods, water has important health benefits. Insufficient consumption can leadto muscle spasm, renal dysfunction, increased risk of bladder cancer, and even death.”Drinking water infused with fruit or herbs is a smart and tasty way to hydrate andcleanse without getting overloaded with sugar and calories.
There are many health benefits of infused water including appetite control, hydration,immune defense, heartburn prevention, blood sugar regulation and weightmanagement. My absolute favorite infused water includes green tea, mint and lime.This combination has helped to sooth my headaches and is an excellent breathfreshener. It also benefits the digestive system, protects the immune system, andsupports fat burning.
In addition, lemon infused water has been known to provide great beauty benefits,supporting healthy skin texture and appearance as well as regulating our pH level,supporting good kidney health, providing a good dose of Vitamin C and supporting thefight against cancer. Below is a chart that lists the variety of infusedbeverages and their health benefits.
| Infusion | Health Benefits |
| Green Tea, Mint, Lime | Fat burning, digestion, headaches,congestion, and breath freshener |
| Strawberry and Kiwi | Cardiovascular health, immune systemprotection, blood sugar regulation,digestion |
| Cucumber, Lime, and Lemon | Water weight management, bloating,appetite control, hydration, digestion |
Danielle Hairston-Green, Ph.D.
Program Specialist, Family and Consumer Sciences
[emailprotected]
(936) 261-5118
