I have always struggled with consuming the right amount of water daily. However, a few years ago, a friend of mine stopped by my office and offered me a bag full of wonderful organic herbs from her garden, including mint. She bragged about how adding mint to her drinking water increased her water consumption daily …I tried it and I love it! Now I infuse my water with mints, berries, and lemons daily.
According to Dr. Robert Parker, BS, DC (Parker Health Solutions), “There are three essential elements necessary for our bodies to sustain life. In order of necessity, they are air or oxygen, water, and nutrition from food. Proper hydration is critical for maintaining health on a cellular level. Every cell in the human body is reliant on water for proper function.” The USDA explains, “Whether drunk from the tap or a bottle or eaten in foods, water has important health benefits. Insufficient consumption can lead to 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 and cleanse 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 weight management. My absolute favorite infused water includes green tea, mint and lime. This combination has helped to sooth my headaches and is an excellent breath freshener. It also benefits the digestive system, protects the immune system, and supports 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 the fight against cancer. Below is a chart that lists the variety of infused beverages 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 system protection, 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
dyhairstongreen@pvamu.edu
(936) 261-5118