While it’s widely regarded that regularly drinking water carries multiple health benefits, making the transition from fizzy drinks and other sweetened beverages to plain unadulterated water can be tricky because of the taste factor. If you’re accustomed to artificial flavouring accompanied by a sugar rush, drinking ordinary water may seem pretty dull in comparison. Fortunately however, regardless of whether you’re looking to drink more water because of health reasons or to save more money, there are plenty of ways to make your glass of water more appealing to the taste buds, without sacrificing any of the health benefits.

1. Lemon

A slice of lemon will infuse your glass of water with a lively citrus tang, which makes a much healthier alternative to the processed and sugary lemonades you find in supermarkets. Lemons are not only cheap, but are incredibly good for your immune system as they are jam-packed with vitamin C. If the flavour of lemon isn’t quite for you, a slice of lime or orange provides an alternative citrusy taste without losing any of the vitamin C. If you don’t have time to cut a slice of lemon, a squirt of lemon juice will do the trick.

2. Cucumber

There’s a reason you often see spas serving water with slices of cucumber – it’s an incredibly refreshing combination that has numerous health benefits. Aside from tasting great, cucumbers also have antioxidant properties which helps to reduce the signs of ageing, leaving you with healthier looking skin and hair. Cucumbers are also known to combat bad breath and can help to cure hangovers, so perhaps this is the ideal drink after a night out?

3. Ginger

If you’ve got a cold and are looking to cleanse your sinuses, there are few remedies as good as warm water infused with ginger gratings. Among many other health benefits, ginger is known to help the absorption of nutrients into the body. Water infused with ginger provides a warming sensation that you can feel pass through your body when you drink it, which makes it the perfect drink for those chilly winter evenings.

4. Mint

Mint infused water provides a gentle cooling sensation and is ideal for picnics in the warm weather. When making this drink, crush up some mint leaves as small as you can and pour them into your water container; then leave it overnight for the minty goodness to diffuse throughout the water and you’ll be ready for a splendid afternoon.

5. Berries

Not only are berries sweet and refreshing, they also have hydrating properties and are full of vitamin C. You can have water with strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries or perhaps even a combination of them all. As with the mint leaves, it’s preferable that you allow a bit of time for the rich flavours to diffuse throughout the water container, so if you’re intent on going out in the warm sun it’s best to plan in advance.

(Photo by mconnors)