7 Water Recipes (Yes, Recipes)
Chefs and nutritionists share the concoctions that help them stay flush.
Related: The 8 Complaints Nutritionists Hear Most
Water: It’s vital to life and crucial for regeneration. But while every athlete is well versed on the boons of proper hydration—and the perils of dehydration—prioritizing your 8 daily glasses can be a challenge. Hence research suggests up to 75 percent of adults could be functioning in a chronic state of dehydration.
Related: 6 Nutritionist-Approved Snacks
Cue: nutrient-packed, clean-eating, water-infused—and Instagram-friendly—recipes from chefs and nutritionists. Paired with powerhouse ingredients like cayenne (to rev metabolism), cucumbers (to calm), and ginger (to promote digestion), water is poised to become your new favorite superfood. Read on, then drink up.
Related: What A Healthy Diet Isn’t
1. Blood Orange and Spice Water
Ingredients:
4 small to medium blood oranges
1 (2-inch) chunk turmeric, or 1 teaspoon dried
1 (1-inch) chunk ginger
1 teaspoon cayenne
1 liter water
A few drops of stevia (optional)
Directions:
Juice oranges, turmeric, and ginger. Stir in cayenne. Add water and stevia, if using.
RECIPE COURTESY OF CHEF MATTHEW KENNEY
2. You-Pick-It Water Combos
Choose from:
Cucumber Basil Water
Rosemary Blackberry Berry Infused Water
Pineapple Mint Coconut Water
Directions:
Place ¼ cup of your choice of ingredients (equal parts of the listed ingredients to equal ¼ cup) into an 8-ounce sanitized Mason jar, seal, and place into the fridge or in the sun for 2-4 hours, or overnight. (If making the third option, use 1/12 cup of each of the three ingredients). Refill your Mason jar with purified water up to 2 times after consuming.
RECIPE COURTESY OF CANDICE KUMAI
3. Wild Blueberry Hibiscus Water
Ingredients:
¼ cup dried hibiscus flowers
4 cups spring or purified water
1 cup wild blueberries
2 dates
Liquid stevia, to taste if needed
Directions:
Place hibiscus flowers in a 1-quart glass jar and add water. Screw lid on the jar and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour. Once the flowers have infused the water, strain out. Pour flower-infused water back into jar and add the wild blueberries and dates. Place lid back on jar and place in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours or overnight. After the water infuses, you can drink. Taste and add liquid stevia if preferred. You can leave the fruits in the infused water for up to 2 days before you need to strain them out of the water. On the second day, you can add more water.
RECIPE COURTESY OF HOLISTIC CHEF SHELLEY ALEXANDER
4. Cayenne and Lemon Water
Ingredients:
1 cup cold water
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Directions:
Add cayenne and lemon juice to water, then drink.
RECIPE COURTESY OF KERI GLASSMAN, RDN
5. Strawberry, Orange, Lemon, and Basil Water
Ingredients:
1 handful of basil
¼ cup of sliced strawberries
1 thinly sliced lemon
1 thinly sliced orange
1 tablespoon of honey or agave nectar or stevia
Water
Directions:
Place basil, strawberries, oranges, lemons, and sweetener of your choice into two 16-ounce Mason jars. Fill with water. Seal Mason jar tightly and let it sit overnight in the refrigerator.
RECIPE COURTESY OF BLOGGER JEWEL HAZELTON
6. Energy-Boosting Berry Peach Coconut Water
Ingredients:
1 cup organic blueberries
1 cup organic blackberries
2 doughnut peaches— pitted and cut into ½-inch wedges
6 cups (48 ounces) spring or filtered water
2 cups unsweetened organic coconut water
1-2 drops wild orange essential oil (optional)
Directions:
Place blueberries and blackberries into the bottom of a 1-gallon glass jar. Lay peach slices on top. Pour spring water and coconut water into jar and add wild orange essential oil drops into jar. Stir water with a spoon, cover with a lid and put water into the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or overnight for the best flavor.
RECIPE COURTESY OF HOLISTIC CHEF SHELLEY ALEXANDER
7. Spiced Apple Water
Ingredients:
1 small organic apple, sliced
2 cinnamon sticks
1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
1 pinch of cayenne pepper
Directions:
Fill a small pitcher with water and add all ingredients. Let the mix steep overnight for maximum flavor. Strain as you serve throughout the day.
RECIPE COURTESY OF ROBYN YOUKILIS
By: Cassie Shortsleeve
