The
idea of drinking vitamin water is definitely appealing. I don’t know of
anyone who actually enjoys taking vitamin supplements in pill form. I
also know that many people don’t like the taste of plain water. However,
the type of vitamin water most people are familiar with, the bottled
brand Vitaminwater®, owned by Glacéau, a privately owned subsidiary of
Coca-Cola company, is unhealthy — to say the least. Even Coca-Cola’s
attorneys recently admitted that Vitaminwater® is unhealthy in response
to a lawsuit filed by the Center for Science in the Public Interest
(CSPI). In court briefings, one of the attorneys replied, “No consumer
could reasonably be misled into thinking Vitaminwater® was a healthy
beverage.”
Yet Coca-Cola has marketed their Vitaminwater® for years as a healthful beverage.
In
fact, the company has claimed Vitaminwater® reduces the risk of chronic
disease, promotes healthy joints, supports immune function, and may
also help reduce the risk of eye disease.
So what makes Vitaminwater® so unhealthy?
Without reading the label, you would assume the beverage contains primarily vitamins and water. However, the main ingredients are sugar and water. A more fitting name for the product should be Sugarwater.
Each 20-ounce bottle of Vitaminwater® contains 33 grams of sugar! The sugar added is crystalline fructose, a processed sweetener linked to numerous health problems. It’s hardly a health drink.
In addition, the so-called vitamins added to the beverage are synthetic vitamin chemicals—not the natural nutrients your body could actually assimilate and utilize.
Without reading the label, you would assume the beverage contains primarily vitamins and water. However, the main ingredients are sugar and water. A more fitting name for the product should be Sugarwater.
Each 20-ounce bottle of Vitaminwater® contains 33 grams of sugar! The sugar added is crystalline fructose, a processed sweetener linked to numerous health problems. It’s hardly a health drink.
In addition, the so-called vitamins added to the beverage are synthetic vitamin chemicals—not the natural nutrients your body could actually assimilate and utilize.
Don’t be fooled. Drinking Coca-Cola’s line of vitamin and electrolyte-enhanced waters are unhealthy and a waste of money. Water is the best way to rehydrate your body. Sometimes we need a little bit more or we just want a little bit more. The options for flavoured or enhanced drinks are expensive high sugar drinks that have unrecognizable ingredients. There is an alternative! A homemade drink that tastes great, has all the benefits of the store bought options and you can pronounce all the ingredients. The best part of making this yourself is you have complete control over the nutritional value and sugar content of this drink. You can cater it specifically to your own needs.
1) Use
distilled or purified water. You can use the pur filter on your tap, any
other filtration system you may have or bottled water.
2 )Add in your favorite Add ons. Here are some options.
You can stir in some dried or fresh herbs like mint, rosemary, chamomile or lavender. Use 2 tbsp / quart. Tie it in a thin muslin bag or put in a stainless steel tea ball or just drop it in. I like fresh herbs and leaves just soaking in my water.
You can add fresh fruit or vegetables like orange slices, lemon slices, peaches, berries, apple, pineapple, cucumber, celery, ginger etc. Be creative. Mix and match. Use about 1 -2 cups of fruit or vegetable / quart. Put into a pitcher and steep overnight in the fridge to let the flavors mingle and mix.
Herbs are a rich, whole food source of vitamins and minerals. Your body is able to most effectively recognize and absorb nutrients from food sources. We source fresh, dried herbs from Local Harvest. Choose one herb, like peppermint, or blend a few for a unique flavor. Have fun creating different flavors until you find the one that is just perfect for you.
Add 2-3 teaspoons of dried herbs per quart of water. Place your choice of fresh, dried herbs into a cotton muslin bag or stainless steel tea ball and place into the pitcher of pure, clean water.
You can mix and match herbs with fruit/ veggie slices if you like. Some of my favorite combos are :
Mint+ Cucumber + Green Apple
Lavender + Blueberries
Mixed berries + Mint
Pineapple + Mint + Ginger
Orange +Lemon + Tangerine slices + Ginger
3 ) Strain the liquid in the morning in a clear glass. Use a strainer if you want or just pour the water into a glass or bottle for delish all natural Vitamin and Mineral water. I like to have some fruit still floating in when I drink it.
4) If you feel like you can add a squirt of liquid vitamin ( available at health food stores) and or a tsp of powdered or liquid vitamin c. Add this only after you strain the liquid. Personally I just like the natural vitamins in the fruit and herbs. I do add some liquid Vitamin C in the winter or if I need an extra boost !
5) If you feel you need your vitamin water sweet add some natural sugar or honey. You can also add Agave Nectar or Stevia to make it diabetic friendly !
Add some ice cubes or seltzer water for spritzy vitamin drink that will have you drinking lots of fluid for the sheer pleasure of it !
3. Leave the pitcher in your refrigerator overnight. And Viola! Fresh, cold vitamin & mineral water that sweetens your breath, reduces puffiness, contributes to the strength and beauty of your hair, skin and nails, and provides a whole food source of a dazzling array of vitamin and minerals. You won’t want to pay for fancy bottled waters again! We like to add ice, lemons, limes or cucumbers too, for a little extra zing. Your homemade vitamin & mineral water will stay fresh and tasty for about 48 hours. So drink up!
2 )Add in your favorite Add ons. Here are some options.
You can stir in some dried or fresh herbs like mint, rosemary, chamomile or lavender. Use 2 tbsp / quart. Tie it in a thin muslin bag or put in a stainless steel tea ball or just drop it in. I like fresh herbs and leaves just soaking in my water.
You can add fresh fruit or vegetables like orange slices, lemon slices, peaches, berries, apple, pineapple, cucumber, celery, ginger etc. Be creative. Mix and match. Use about 1 -2 cups of fruit or vegetable / quart. Put into a pitcher and steep overnight in the fridge to let the flavors mingle and mix.
Herbs are a rich, whole food source of vitamins and minerals. Your body is able to most effectively recognize and absorb nutrients from food sources. We source fresh, dried herbs from Local Harvest. Choose one herb, like peppermint, or blend a few for a unique flavor. Have fun creating different flavors until you find the one that is just perfect for you.
Add 2-3 teaspoons of dried herbs per quart of water. Place your choice of fresh, dried herbs into a cotton muslin bag or stainless steel tea ball and place into the pitcher of pure, clean water.
You can mix and match herbs with fruit/ veggie slices if you like. Some of my favorite combos are :
Mint+ Cucumber + Green Apple
Lavender + Blueberries
Mixed berries + Mint
Pineapple + Mint + Ginger
Orange +Lemon + Tangerine slices + Ginger
3 ) Strain the liquid in the morning in a clear glass. Use a strainer if you want or just pour the water into a glass or bottle for delish all natural Vitamin and Mineral water. I like to have some fruit still floating in when I drink it.
4) If you feel like you can add a squirt of liquid vitamin ( available at health food stores) and or a tsp of powdered or liquid vitamin c. Add this only after you strain the liquid. Personally I just like the natural vitamins in the fruit and herbs. I do add some liquid Vitamin C in the winter or if I need an extra boost !
5) If you feel you need your vitamin water sweet add some natural sugar or honey. You can also add Agave Nectar or Stevia to make it diabetic friendly !
Add some ice cubes or seltzer water for spritzy vitamin drink that will have you drinking lots of fluid for the sheer pleasure of it !
3. Leave the pitcher in your refrigerator overnight. And Viola! Fresh, cold vitamin & mineral water that sweetens your breath, reduces puffiness, contributes to the strength and beauty of your hair, skin and nails, and provides a whole food source of a dazzling array of vitamin and minerals. You won’t want to pay for fancy bottled waters again! We like to add ice, lemons, limes or cucumbers too, for a little extra zing. Your homemade vitamin & mineral water will stay fresh and tasty for about 48 hours. So drink up!
Refreshing Spa Water
- 10 cups water
- 1/2 large cucumber, thinly sliced
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup loosely packed basil leaves
- 1/3 cup loosely packed mint leaves
Some herbs that could be used for Home Made Vitamin Water:
Hibiscus
Calms and relaxes, relieves stomach problems and sweetens the breath! This tart little flower is also reported by herbalists to help lower blood pressure and reduce appetite.
Oatstraw
An excellent toner for your body, oat straw is rich in calcium, magnesium and the “beauty” mineral, silica. It also contains B-complex vitamins, flavones, saponins, and Vitamin A. This is a great way to add calcium to your diet for strong bones. And the silica content helps to strengthen and add shine to hair, nails and skin.
Roships
The rose hip, also called the rose haw, is actually the fruit of the rose. One of the most concentrated sources of vitamin C available, rose hips also contain various flavonoids that have potent antioxidant action, helping to protect the body from the effects of stress, aging and the environment. Rose hips are also an excellent source of iron.
Spearmint
A great breath enhancer, spearmint is also known for its ability to whiten teeth. Spearmint helps to relieve indigestion and is an anti-inflammatory and a diuretic which means bye-bye bloating. The aroma of fresh mint will perk you up and the flavor instantly refreshes.
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