Everyone is crazy about infused water. It’s marketed to be the miracle way to beautiful skin, weight loss, and detox. Beverage companies have been trying to infuse water with all kinds of things, ranging from fruits to vegetables and even herbs. But, what’s the truth behind that hype around infused water?
Is infused water better than your plain old water?
Infused water is claimed to contain up to 20% the nutrients of whatever you soak in it. While there is no evidence to back up this claim, even if it’s true, you will not get much goodness from your bottle of infused water. The 20%-nutrient claim literally means that to get the nutritional value of one cucumber, you have to soak at least 5 cucumbers in your bottle. You’ll probably be better off just eating one cucumber.
The most common form of infused water is lemon juice. Adding lemon slices to plain water certainly improves the taste. However, if you want to get the benefits of vitamin C, antioxidants, and other nutrients from lemons, you have to squeeze the juice into the water. Don’t forget to dilute it a bit before drinking or your teeth will suffer from the acidity.
After all, if you want to get the nutrition from fruits, you have to consume the fruits.
So what’s good about infused water?
We all know how important it is to drink enough water. If you don’t give your body enough water, you will get dehydrated. Dehydration takes a toll on almost every process in the body, including blood circulation, digestion, toxin elimination, temperature regulation, etc. Infused water tastes better, so it may help you drink more and stay better hydrated. If you are drinking infused water, chances are you will not feel the need to touch sugary beverages, which is a huge advantage to your health. To tell the truth, the one and only benefit of drinking infused water is that it helps you drink more water.
How much water you need depends on your weight, general health, your level of activity, and where you live. One way to know if you have enough water is to look at your urine. If it’s clear or light yellow, you are doing a good job. Keep in mind that you can get too much of a good thing. If you drink too much water, much more than your kidneys can handle, you may get life-threatening condition called hyponatremia. Therefore, it’s best to drink just enough.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
