Want to be like Alice Cooper? Drink more water! That’s right, I said water. I had the pleasure of sitting with Alice Cooper and his beautiful bride Sheryl at dinner a while back while the singer was on tour. And what was he drinking? Yep. Water.
I can hear some of you moaning already. You don’t like water. You’re tired of water. Water is boring. Blah, blah, blah. If that’s what you’re saying, as a health advocate I have to tell you to get over it and figure out a way to make your water taste better! Your body needs water to be healthy.
You need to juice up your drink!
I’m one of the lucky ones. I actually like drinking water. But that doesn’t mean I’m not up for a little variety. That’s when I reach for the crisper drawer in my refrigerator.
You can make dozens of delicious water flavors from all-natural ingredients by adding some of your favorite fruits, veggies and herbs. I found some great ideas on the 52 Kitchen Adventures website.
It’s easy to mix up your own fresh flavors like lemon/blueberry, cucumber/rosemary or blackberry/ginger. Just wash your produce carefully, cut it up and add it to the water. If you use herbs, crush the fresh leaves between your fingers a little bit to release the flavor.
This is a great way to get your kids involved in learning healthy habits for life. Let them pick their favorite fruits or veggies and mix up their own colorful flavors. You can even have a family contest to see who comes up with the family-favorite flavor. And if they get to help make it, the kids might be even more willing to drink it at home and on the go.
If you just can’t wait, you can sample your creation right away. But you’ll get more flavor if you refrigerate it for a couple of hours first. If you don’t like the small bits of fruit floating in the water, pour it through a fine mesh strainer or coffee filter before you drink it.
Just remember that this is fresh produce. So if you leave the fruit in the water for more than a day or two, the water may change color and start to taste bitter. That’s a good indication it’s time to dump that batch and start fresh.
I recommend mixing up as much as you can drink in 24 hours. If you have some left over at the end of the day, strain out the fruit and freeze the water into flavorful ice cubes for tomorrow. You can also use frozen berries or other fruit to help chill the water as it gains flavor.
If you’re throwing a summer bash, a big container of fruit water will add color and flavor to your drink table. And you’ll have the added bonus of encouraging your friends and family to drink a good balance of water to go with their cocktails.
It all comes back to what all the health experts keep telling us. Your body needs water, and lots of it, to be healthy. Alice Cooper knows that staying hydrated is a key to singing well. It’s also critical if you’re playing sports or if you want your skin to look younger and feel softer.
So do your body and your family a favor. Fill the fridge with flavored water and you’ll be teaching your kids a habit that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.
What’s your favorite way to flavor your water? Share your ideas here in the wellness category!