AHA News: Bored With Plain Water? Turn It Into Agua Fresca.
U.S. News & World Report By American Heart Association News
THURSDAY, June 8, 2023 (American Heart Association News) -- A cold glass of water can refresh when temperatures soar. But if your taste buds need an extra zing, a sip of agua fresca can help.
Agua fresca, long ubiquitous in Mexico and other Latin American countries, is an all-natural fruit drink replete with nutrients, said Krista Linares, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Los Angeles. "It can be very refreshing and a perfectly valid part of a healthy diet."
Traditional agua fresca, which is Spanish for "fresh water," is made by blending fruit pulp with water, sweetened then served cold. Seeds and grains and even flowers can be used instead of fruit. For example, soaked rice is used to make agua de horchata; soaked chia seeds for agua de chia; and hibiscus flowers for agua de Jamaica.
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"Throughout Latin America you will also see drinks made from oats, made from barley," Linares said.
Linares likes that homemade agua fresca, unlike sugary soft drinks, can be easily modified to individual taste as a healthier alternative. "And you can get some fiber, vitamins and minerals from the fruit, depending on the flavor and how it's made," she said.
