Drink ‘Infused Waters’ for better immunity
FRUIT AND HERB-INFUSED WATERS HAVE GAINED A LOT OF POPULARITY AMONG HEALTH FANATICS AS IT IS A GREAT WAY TO BE HYDRATED AND CAN ALSO HELP STRENGTHEN IMMUNITY
It’s summer, it’s hot and we are in the middle of a pandemic. While it is important to stay home and stay safe, it is also important to stay hydrated and improve your immunity. And an interesting way to do that is to consume infused waters. Many food bloggers, chefs and nutritionists are recommending water infused with fruits, herbs or even spices to add taste to your drink and also enhance your immunity.
From apple and lemon to papaya, guava and even carom seeds, food and health enthusiasts are experimenting with a range of fruits and spices to create healthy waters of different flavours. You can also add the fruits in different combinations, along with turmeric, honey and more to boost its health quotient.
HYDRATION EFFECT
An important benefit of drinking infused water
Fruit and herb-infused waters have often been called detox water, especially when detoxifying ingredients like lemon, lime, cucumber or mint are added to it. Over the last few months, many combinations of infused waters are being recommended for detoxification of the body
is hydration. Venu Madhavi, chief nutritionist, Aster Prime Hospital, Ameerpet, Hyderabad explains, “Hydration is important for digestive health and maintaining regular bowel movements. Drinking plenty of water may help food pass smoothly through our gut and prevent us from becoming constipated,” she states. It also improves digestion.
Staying hydrated helps your body naturally eliminate the bacteria and toxins that cause infection. With the help of water, oxygen and nutrients are distributed throughout the body, and waste material is flushed out from the body.
— Venu Madhavi, chief nutritionist, Aster Prime Hospital
This is a great alternative to consuming fruit juices and sodas that are laden with sugar. It has many advantages including hydration, elevating mood and improving immunity
— Dr Zeenath Fatima, dietitian, Continental Hospitals
She adds, “Staying hydrated helps your body naturally eliminate the bacteria and toxins that cause infection. With the help of water, oxygen and nutrients are distributed throughout the body, and waste material is flushed out from the body.”
Dr Zeenath Fatima, dietitian, Continental Hospitals, believes that drinking infused waters enables you to drink more water than you otherwise would and thus better hydrates the body.
“This is a great alternative to consuming fruit juices and sodas that are laden with sugar,” she says. “It has many advantages including hydration, elevating mood and improving immunity,” she adds.
WATER FOR DETOX
Fruit and herb-infused waters have often been called
detox water, especially when detoxifying ingredients like lemon, lime, cucumber or mint are added to it. Over the last few months, many combinations of infused waters are being recommended for detoxification of the body and even for weight loss. Madhavi states, “Drinking water may help you lose weight, and this applies to detox water or fruit-infused water too. Water has been shown to temporarily increase the metabolic rate, thus burning more calories.” She further elaborates, “This can be partially explained by a rise in metabolism, but may also be due to the effect water has on your appetite. Drinking water has been linked to reduced hunger. Drinking water before a meal may make you eat less.”
Fatima believes the detoxification is not so much due to infused water but just the fact that you drink more water. “Drinking more water is what keeps you hydrated and eliminates toxins from the body. The belief that certain infused waters can detoxify the body are not entirely true,” she adds.
IMMUNITY BOOSTER
A great way to improve your immunity is to add healthy ingredients to make your infused water. Adding fruits like lemon and orange can improve one’s intake of vitamin C, thus boosting immunity. Similarly turmeric, honey, cinnamon and many other herbs and spices that boost immunity can be added to make your infused water. “Fruits like orange and lemon, tulsi, ginger, mint, cinnamon all have a positive impact on immunity. You can also add star anise, which has anti-viral properties. Just add it in cold water and let it sit for 12 hours. Then you can consume it,” says Fatima.
MAKE IT AT HOME
Fruit-infused water is one of the easiest things to make at home. First choose the fruits, vegetables, herbs or spices you want. Wash and simply chop up the ingredients and add them to hot or cold water, depending on your preference. The more of an ingredient you use, the stronger the flavour will be. Let it rest in it for a few hours and then it is ready to be consumed. “If you like a cold infused drink, let the ingredients rest for about 12 hours or more in the fridge before consuming it,” says Fatima. “Some of the combinations you can try at home are cucumber and lemon, cinnamon and ginger, chia seeds and lemon, coconut water and chia seeds, green tea leaves and ginger. These can help boost immunity,” she adds.