The first rule of wellness: Hydration, hydration, hydration. Basically every health professional encourages downing a glass of water first thing in the a.m. (maybe with an added slice of lemon), dietitians preach about its importance in aiding digestion, and beauty experts swear it’s the key to having dewy, glow-y skin.

But here’s the thing: not everyone loves the taste of plain water, making drinking enough a bit of a struggle. And it probably means you’re more likely to reach for juice or soda rather than H20, meaning your hydration habit comes with a side of sugar or artificial sweeteners.

Pro tip for those who find regular water entirely meh: Try infusing your water with fruit, veggies, herbs, and/or spices to add flavor without any added sugar. Infused water recipes check every box—they’re delicious, hydrating, and naturally subtly sweet. They also take zero time to prepare. Ready to learn more? Read on.

Benefits of infused water

• Drinking water is the most basic and effective method for staying hydrated. If infusing your water means you’re more likely to stay hydrated, all systems of your body will benefit.
• Infused water supports healthy digestion. This is because hydration is key to maintaining a healthy digestive system.
• Infused water is good for your skin, as staying hydrated is indisputably one of the best things you can do for your complexion.
• Certain types of infused water—particularly lemon water—may help treat kidney stones. “The citric acid in lemons can help break up and prevent certain types of kidney stones,” Erica Matluck, ND, NP previously told Well+Good. Indeed, researchers have found that drinking four ounces of lemon juice (or orange juice, or melon juice) in tap water increases citrate levels in the urine. This, in turn, can help ward off kidney stones.

Here, 8 infused water recipes to try:

1. Strawberry-orange mint infused water

This combo of citrus and mint from Simple Vegan Blog creators Alberto Aragon and Iosune Robles is basically the definition of refreshing. Since winter isn’t exactly peak strawberry season, buy a bag of frozen ones, slice, and add a few after they de-thaw.

2. Strawberry rosewater chia fresca

The First Mess creator Laura Right loves a good chia-infused water—but she adds a floral twist with one teaspoon of rosewater. The mix of fruit and floral gives it the perfect amount of natural sweetness.

3. Pomegranate mint infused water

Give your glass a holiday twist with just two ingredients: pomegranate and mint. Not only are you getting a nice boost of antioxidants and vitamin C, but the mint also helps with digestion, making this infusion a good one to sip on after you eat. (And if you’re wondering how the heck you cut a pomegranate, here’s how.)

4. Veggie water

Of course fruit isn’t your only infusion option; adding veggies can be just as refreshing. Oh So Delicioso blogger Desarae Fowler likes making a big water dispenser, adding in celery, cucumber, parsley, lime, and mint, and refilling her glass all day. Talk about spa water vibes!

5. Rosemary citrus water

Sure, adding a few sprigs of rosemary to things like pizza and roast chicken is normal, but trust: it taste great in water, too. Delightful E Made blogger Erin Indahl-Fink balances out the flavor with a few slices of lemon, adding a layer of brightness to the taste.

6. Cucumber mint water

Cucumber mint is the little black dress of water infusions—a classic. It has only two ingredients (besides, you know, the water and optional lime), but it elevates the taste so much that you’ll likely drink more than you would otherwise. Pretty great hydration hack, right?

7. Lavender mint water

Notice a theme here? Mint pairs well with virtually anything—and that includes lavender. This is a great infusion to sip on when you want to experience a bit of calm, like if you’re stressed out at work or there’s a lot going on at home. Sip, swallow, and breathe.

8. Lemon orange cherry bergamot mint water

This infusion is both calming *and* energizing due to the mix of bright citrus and grounding cherries, which is linked to promoting sleep and relaxation. And it also has—you guessed it—mint.

Can you eat the fruit after infusing water?

As long as it’s fresh (or frozen), you sure can. There is nothing wrong with eating the fruit from your infused water, however you may notice that it tastes slightly less sweet and/or flavorful. This is because some of the flavor of the fruit likely leached into your water—hence the term infusion.

How long you can keep infused water in the fridge

If your infused water uses any fresh fruit or veggies, overnight is probably the longest you should let it sit before drinking. Any more time could result in overly soggy strawberries, melon balls, or cucumber slices. Infusions make solely with tender herbs like basil or mint will last a couple of days at max, and heartier herb infusions (think rosemary or oregano) could last as long as a week.

Speaking of hydration, find out if the temperature of your water can affect your digestion. And a water sommelier—yep, you read that right—shares her inside knowledge. 

Article originally published on December 14, 2018 with additional reporting by Betty Gold.

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