Although water is still the most recommended drink, especially in hot weather... sometimes you may want something else. Discover a fun alternative to water that is also healthier than overly sweetened drinks and sodas: flavored water!

Pourquoi boire de l’eau ? 

L’water Water is not considered a food in its own right because it contains no proteins, carbohydrates, fats or fibers. It does not bring any energy.

However water is essential to life for a variety of reasons. Recall that all life forms need water to survive and that a human being can die dehydrated in less than 10 days.

Our bodies are 55-75% water (about 75% in newborns, 65% in adults, and 55% in the elderly) and this contributes to many vital processes: maintaining blood and lymph volume, lubricating joints and eyes, thermoregulation, chemical activity within cells, digestion (saliva, absorption and transport of food), neurological activity, skin hydration, elimination of waste, ...

Each individual has specific needs based on their gender, size, lifestyle and the climate they live in. In our countries (France, Belgium, Luxembourg, ...) an average adult spends about two liters of water per day (one liter via urine and one liter via sweat, stools and breathing). These water losses increase during high heat, when we practice physical activity, have a fever, during certain diseases (vomiting, diarrhea, ...), ...

In order to compensate for the losses, it is recommended to bring 500ml via the food by consuming five portions of fruits and vegetables per day and 1.5 liter via our consumption of drinks (water, green tea, flavored water, ...)

Boissons sucrées et hydratation

Although they are drinks, sweetened drinks such as sodas, fruit juices, ... are not considered hydrating. In addition to the thirst-quenching side of the well-chilled soda served with ice cubes, this type of drink has rather a dehydrating effect.

The amount of sugar present in juices and sodas make them so-called "hypertonic" drinks, our body will absorb the sugar first and foremost and since the concentration of mineral salts in these drinks is less than that of our body, these will not migrate to our body but will go the opposite way, dehydrating us...

To be avoided, or at least limited in consumption.
 

Une alternative saine : les eaux aromatisées

A more fun alternative to water and more hydrating than soda or juice is flavored water. The principle is quite simple: you infuse fruits, vegetables, aromatic plants or flowers in your water, preferably filtered. The recipes can vary endlessly.

The trick is to let them infuse long enough for the water to have taken on all the flavors. This way you'll have all the moisturizing power of water with a little taste to boot. And the icing on the cake, this drink is calorie neutral. Here are four ideas to get you started.  

Vos 4 recettes d’eaux aromatisés

Gingembre/citron

Ingredients: ¼ of cucumber

• 2cm fresh ginger, peeled

• A handful of fresh mint

• 1 lemon

• 1 tablespoon of CHIA SEEDS

• 2 liters of water

Slice the cucumber and dice the ginger. 

Squeeze the lemon. 

Put all the ingredients in a container and add the two liters of water. 

Fraise/basilic

Ingredients: 

• 100g of strawberries fresh

• 1 handful of basil leaves

• 2 liters of water

• A few ice cubes

Cut the strawberries and rub the basil leaves with your fingers before placing them in a bottle. 

Add water and a few ice cubes and let the flavors mix for a few hours.
 

Pastèque/menthe

Ingredients: 

• 1 piece of watermelon

• 1 lime to yellow

• 12-15 leaves of fresh mint

• 2 liters of water

Cut the watermelon into large cubes and remove the seeds. Wash the lemon well (especially if it is not organic) and cut it into slices. Rinse the mint leaves. 

Pour the water into a carafe and add the watermelon cubes, lemon and mint leaves.

Place in the refrigerator for at least one night before consuming the flavored water.

Citron vert/menthe/ananas

Ingredients: 

• 1 piece ofpineapple

• 2 limes

• 12-15 fresh mint leaves

• 2 liters of water

Dice the pineapple, slice the limes and rinse the mint leaves. 

Mix all the ingredients with the two liters of water and let infuse overnight in the refrigerator. 

We have presented a few recipes for flavored waters, but you can vary endlessly. So, it's up to you!