Pomegranate Berry Spa Water is a healthy and flavorful substitute for sugar-laden and alcoholic beverages this Valentine’s Day. Photo © Karen Peltier
I’m going to embrace Valentine’s Day in a healthy way this year by making this refreshing “Pomegranate-Berry Spa Water.” Full of several health benefits, such as supporting heart health, this antioxidant-rich spa water is easy to whip up and tastes absolutely decadent. The best part is, you can drink as much as you want without worrying about counting calories or taking in too much sugar.
Share a pitcher with friends or co-workers, or serve it in some champagne glasses for a romantic dinner for two. Its pink tint, heart-shaped strawberries, lush raspberries, and refreshing touch of mint, are sure to please.
Ingredients
This recipe uses just a tad of pomegranate juice to impart a pink color and heart-healthy benefits, but if you don’t have any on hand, feel free to use cranberry juice instead. Also, in place of fresh mint, you may add mint tea. (Remove the bags before serving.)
- 1 quart filtered or spring water
- 1 cup of ice
- 1/4 cup pomegranate juice
- 4 – 6 sprigs of fresh peppermint or spearmint (or 1-2 mint tea
bags) - 1/4 cup sliced strawberries
- 1/4 cup red raspberries
Directions
This beautiful spa water is quick and easy to make. First, wash the mint, discard any unsightly leaves, and cut off any excess stems. Then add the mint (or substitute tea bags) and berries to a pitcher of water and chill for a couple of hours or overnight, so that the flavors are fully infused.
Options
Have fun modifying this recipe with other ingredients you may have on hand, such as blackberries, cranberries, and blueberries. Ice cubes made with fresh herbs, such as mint leaves, are especially pretty if you have the time to make them in advance.
Did you know?
- Pomegranate juice may prevent heart disease, inhibit the negative effects of cholesterol, and even slow the growth of prostate cancer according to this WebMd article.
- The anthocyanin content in berries is responsible for their color and many health benefits according to this recent study in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture.
- Strawberry polyphenols are suspected to have cardiovascular health benefits as noted in this Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry study.
- Mint was shown to lower high levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and low density lipoprotein (LDL; i.e., the “bad” cholesterol) in a scientific study done with rats.
- Staying well-hydrated is important for heart health and aids in the heart removing wastes (i.e., detoxificationing), so it can function better according to this article by the American Heart Association.
- Water transports oxygen and essential nutrients and vitamins throughout your body, which is 60% water.
Other Spa Water Articles You May Be Interested In:
- 7 Compelling Health Reasons to Drink Cucumber Water
- 5 Reasons to Add Lemon Water to Your Daily Routine
- Refreshing Cucumber Mint Medley Spa Water Recipe
- Are You Unknowingly Drinking “Dead” Water Void of Minerals?
- 7 Ways to Enliven Your Drinking Water with Minerals for Better Health
Other Spa Treats You Might Like:
- A Decadent Rose Milk Bath for Valentine’s Day!
- Revitalizing Himalayan Pink Salt Rose Bath
- Remineralizing Spa Bath with Dead Sea Salt
- How to do Abhyanga: A Self-Massage Full of Health Benefits
- Organic Lavender Body Scrub
Copyright © Karen Peltier and Well Gal, 2014. All rights reserved.
Photos © Karen Peltier and Well Gal, 2014.