Infused water or detox water has been a big water drinking trend since the 2010s. Everybody buys infuser water bottles and inserts all sorts of fruits and herbs into their water—fruits, herbs and spices like Strawberries, Ginger and Watermelon.
However, as with every dietary and fitness trend that hits the internet and becomes famous in broader society, there’s misinformation.
Can infused water truly eliminate toxins and aid in weight loss, or is it merely a marketing gimmick?
Let’s find out!
What’s infused water?
Infused water or detox water has a mixture of fruits and herbs placed into the water and left to flavour it.
You can take out the fruit and herbs if you don’t want broken-down pulp in your water. But that’s a personal preference.
Why do people drink infused water?
People infuse the water with herbs and fruits to flavour the water without buying a soft drink or mass-produced flavoured water.
It makes water tasteless and boring without the super-high sugar levels of the mass-produced stuff. The only sugar in the water would be the naturally occurring sugars in the fruit.
It makes for an excellent way to incorporate more water into your diet.
And you can customise it to suit your tastes and use the ingredients you have at home. Many people have water infused with things like:
- Lemon and lime
- Strawberry and basil
- Orange and cinnamon
- Cucumber and Mint
What are the supposed health benefits?
Like all things that have fruit, we assume/ are told they have huge benefits. Infused water is no exception. Some benefits are real, exaggerated or false!
The health benefits that many have been told include:
- Weight loss
- Removing toxins from the body
- Boosting immune function
- Improved complexion
- Better digestive health
However, this doesn’t come from the fruit in the water or the flavouring.
There are no specific guidelines for the strength of infusion or the duration the fruit remains in the water.
The nutritional value of infused water varies accordingly. A stronger infusion increases the nutritional content, although it will still not match the benefits of consuming the fruits and herbs whole.
Exaggerated claims
Also, some of these health benefits are exaggerated. An example of an exaggerated one is:
Boosting immune function
Vitamin C can improve your immune system slightly. However, this won’t happen with infused water.
The fruit/flavouring in the drink offers too little nutritional value, even with regular consumption, to make any difference.
The fake health benefits
Gets rid of toxins in the body
Whenever there’s a health trend, we're always told it removes toxins from the body. But these are never elaborated on and are never explained. They’re buzzwords thrown around to sound healthy!
The body is already well designed in multiple ways to remove toxins through organs like our liver, sweat and urine.
There’s no evidence that this (or any other dieting/fitness trend) improves the process of removing toxins.
PH balancing
You cannot alter the pH levels of your blood or cells by consuming specific foods or drinks. Such a claim is incorrect!
Improving complexion
Whether you drink water with flavouring or not, it will increase the skin’s hydration. But it won’t change its colour, no matter what type you drink.
This is another false claim.
The real health benefits
There are genuine health benefits, though they result from your drinking water itself, not from any additives.
Weight loss helper
Water is known to raise your metabolic weight, meaning you burn more calories. On top of that, water is linked to reduced hunger.
Improves digestive health
Both infused and regular water aid in preventing constipation and promoting healthy bowel movements by facilitating the smooth passage of food through the body.
Energy levels
Dehydration can quickly affect our energy levels and mood! Symptoms can include reduced concentration and headaches.
Drinking water can help reduce dehydration and improve energy levels and mood.
Should you drink infused water?
Infused water isn't inherently more nutritious or healthier. It enhances the bland taste of water, making it more appealing and encouraging higher consumption, thus preventing dehydration and boosting focus.
It's important to understand the real benefits of food and beverages rather than believing misconceptions.
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