MINT To Be, With a Little LIME On the Side

      Prior to COVID and being in quarantine, I was maintaining a pretty healthy lifestyle - or at least healthier than what I was. I was working out 3-4 times a week, losing weight, gaining muscles, eating healthier foods and drinking plenty of water. Unfortunately when the COVID crisis hit, being a high-risk and living with one (hi mom!) meant I had to be extra careful so I stopped going to the gym and with that I started to feel unmotivated. I lost interest in trying to cook healthy recipes and drank more sodas than water. Now almost 6 months into this new normal for our world, I have gained some of the pounds I had originally lost back and I knew I had to do something about it. 
      Hence where this little recipe comes in.

      I love drinking water, I really do but sometimes plain water doesn't cut it for me and I need something to jazz it up. Mint and lime are two of my favorite items to add to literally anything and back in college, I drank infused water to help keep my immune system health, my energy up and my weight down. 
      For this, you really only need 3 ingredients

1. Lime
2. Mint
3. Cucumber

     ​ And of course, plenty of water. 

      The first thing I do is add ice to my jar. I use these really cute mason jars I found at the Dollar Tree because I like making a lot at once which can then chill in the fridge if I need and because it is just ascetically pleasing. I put ice in first so it cools the jar down as I cut the cucumber into slices. I add cucumbers into my water because they have a lot of added benefits such as keeping your skin healthy by helping flush out toxins from your body, helping your bones stay strong (and as someone who has RA this is a huge thing), and helping you lose weight. It also adds another flavor to your water.  

      Next I slice the lime in half - one to squeeze on to my ice and the other half to slice into smaller sections to seep in the water. Lime is something I would add to everything if I could, so sometimes, I add more than one, but one lime typically is enough for the pitcher/jar of water. Limes, like cucumbers, have a whole bunch of added benefits when you mix it with water besides adding an extra flavor. Lime water can help promote digestion, healthy skin and helps boost your immune system. And with COVID around to stay it looks like, I will need all the help I can get. 

       The final things I add are the water to start soaking the cucumbers and lime and of course, the mint! I pick off the mint leaves and, using my knife, dunk them in the water to seep. I am a huge herb and essential oil person, so mint is something I try to keep in stock around the house because it has so many different benefits to it. As someone who suffers from headaches every so often, mint is a huge help as it helps with them due to being a adaptogenic herb. It also helps with digestion like lime, your immune system, and helps calm your stress levels. I fill the rest of the jar up with water and pop it in the fridge to chill for 1 hour. 
      I typically let mine sit over night and then drink it throughout the next day, refilling it with water when I am done. This lime, mint, cucumber water is a quick and easy way to infuse your water and I like to do it before working out or before a road trip to take with me. You can make your infused water any way, this is just a personal favorite of mine. If you have any other infused water recipes, let me know!