Flavored water recipes

You just worked out. You're sweating and parched. Instead of reaching for a bottled sports drink that offers synthetic ingredients, often with artificial sweeteners, colors and natural flavors (code for highly processed stuff the government doesn't regulate), reach for water. But not just any water – workout water.

No Junk Here, Workout waters that refresh

Workout waters are flavored waters you make at home, and something your body can look forward to after every session, whether yoga or spin class. Going beyond standard lemon water, workout waters infuse fresh herbs, spices and aromatics that wake up your senses, cool down and refresh your body and offer health benefits.

Mint, for example, has a calming effect on the stomach and contains folate and calcium. Rosemary is a leading antioxidant herb and used to ward off colds and infections. And the compounds in fresh ginger offer powerful cancer-fighting compounds as well as anti-inflammatory properties.

To create your own workout water, simply grate spices such as ginger and muddle leafy herbs like rosemary or mint in a tall glass. Fill glass with ice and top with freshly filtered water.

Rosemary-orange workout water recipe

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 8 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 4 slices fresh orange
• Ice
• Water

Directions:

1. Place two rosemary sprigs in each glass. Place one orange slice in each glass. Using a spoon, gently bruise the rosemary and orange by pressing.
2. Fill glasses with ice; top with water and stir. Serve cold.

Ginger-lemon-thyme workout water recipe

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 4 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
• 4 lemon wedges
• 8 sprigs fresh thyme
• Ice
• Water

Directions:

1. Place one teaspoon ginger, one lemon wedge and two sprigs of thyme in each glass. Using a spoon, gently bruise the ingredients by pressing.
2. Fill glasses with ice; top with water and stir. Serve cold.

Cucumber-fennel workout water recipe

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and juiced
• 4 fennel fronds
• Ice
• Water

Directions:

1. Divide cucumber juice among four glasses; add fennel to each glass. Using a spoon, gently bruise the ingredients by pressing.
2. Fill glasses with ice; top with water and stir. Serve cold.

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