18 Fruit Water Ideas for Summer

Did you know that more than half the American population is walking around in a state of partial dehydration? One study of 2,000 people found that just 22% drink the USDA-recommended eight to 10 eight-ounce glasses of water each day. We do drink a lot of soda, though – in fact, the average American drinks a whipping 45 gallons of soda each year! That’s an awful lot of sugar we’re taking in (without getting the benefit of hydration if you’re drinking caffeinated soda). And diet soda isn’t much better – studies show that diet soda is linked it o increased risk of Type II Diabetes and heart disease. Diet or regular, drinking soda just doesn’t compare with drinking water!

Why We Need to Drink Lots of Water

What is essential for our health. Not only are our bodies made up of mostly water; they’re involved in many important bodily functions, including flushing waste from the body, regulating body temperature, and helping with brain function. Drinking lots of water helps our digestion, aids our bodies in absorbing nutrients, also protects our joints and enables us to perform better when we exercise. Drinking water improves our skin, our mood, our cognitive function…it even helps us lose weight!

How to Make Getting Your 8-10 in Easier

So why do we have such a hard time drinking the recommended amount? Perhaps it’s because plain old water can be a little bit dull to consume. The good news is that you can do more to bring flavor to your water than just adding a big wedge of lemon! By gathering a few fruits, vegetables, and herbs, you can make your own flavored, infused water that’s practically calorie free and gives you a refreshing and healthy way to stay hydrated.

Drinking fruit-infused water is a great way to help you drink more without even realizing it, and also adds extra health benefits, including acting as a detox and flushing out body toxins, increasing Vitamin C and antioxidant intake, helping to improve weight management, regulating bowel function, energizing muscles, improving kidney health, aiding skin and anti-aging improvement.

Making Infused Water at Home

You can buy flavored waters in stores, but these concoctions often include additives and so-called “natural” flavors. Why bother when it’s so easy to make your own, all-natural flavored infused water?

All you need to make delicious, infused water is a combination of fresh fruits, vegetable, and herbs, is a large, glass pitcher and a little patience. While some flavors infuse quite quickly (like Pittman & Davis Navel Oranges and Pittman & Davis Ruby Red Grapefruit), others (like our Paradise Pineapple, berries, and herbs) take longer.

The longer your infusion sits, the more flavorful it will be. A few hours to overnight is best. If you let it sit at room temperature for a little while, the sun can help extract the flavors even more (like when you make sun tea) but do move it to the refrigerator or add ice if you don’t plan on drinking it all right away.

What You Need to Make Tasty Water Infusions

Fresh Pears, Apples, Citrus and more from Pittman & Davis can help take the bland and boring out of H2O while meeting your daily intake requirement! Here are some ingredients we recommend you gather:

• Fresh fruit. Navel Oranges, Ruby Red Grapefruit, Pears, Apples, Pineapple, Mango, Strawberries, Blueberries, Peaches, Nectarines
• Fresh herbs. Basil, mint, parsley, rosemary, cilantro
• Fresh veggies. Carrots, cucumber
• Cinnamon sticks, cardamom, fresh ginger, vanilla bean

Infused Water Flavor Combos We Love

Below are some of our favorite fresh flavor combinations:

1. Oranges and fresh basil leaves
2. Oranges, cucumber slices and fresh mint leaves
3. Oranges, fresh ginger, and lime slices
4. Navel oranges, pineapple, and fresh mint
5. Navel oranges, cardamom, and vanilla bean
6. Oranges, mango, and lime slices
7. Oranges, grapefruit, and fresh mint
8. Oranges, strawberry slices, and fresh basil
9. Navel oranges, ruby red grapefruit, cucumber, and fresh mint
10. Navel oranges, blueberries, mango, and fresh mint
11. Oranges, lemon slices and 1 teaspoon of chia seeds
12. Oranges, kiwi slices and fresh mint
13. Navel oranges and blueberries
14. Navel oranges and fresh cilantro
15. Oranges, apple slices and fresh mint
16. Oranges, ruby red grapefruit, and fresh rosemary sprigs
17. Oranges and cinnamon sticks
18. Navel oranges, pear slices, lemon slices and fresh mint

So, beat the heat this summer with infused water combinations including fresh, premium Pittman & Davis fruit!