One of the main benefits is that it can increase water intakee and help you eat more fruit throughout the day, says Gaby Vaca-Flores, RD, founder of nutrition and health education service Glow + Green. Agua freshes can be a great way to liven up your water intake and encourage you to try the different tropical fruits that Latin American and Caribbean cultures use.
They’re also a way to get fiber and vitamins from fruit, says Dalina Soto, MA, RD, LD, founder of the anti-diet nutrition counseling service Your Latina Nutritionist. “Most fruits are loaded with vitamin C,” she says.
According to Vaca-Flores, vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can help fight free radicals in the body, strengthen the cellular functions of the immune system, and even boost collagen production in the skin.
“Because of their high content of vitamin C and other antioxidants,” says Figueroa, “eating or drinking antioxidant-rich fruits can help support heart health, circulatory health, and cancer prevention.”
Agua frescas can also be made with edible plants (flowers), grains including rice, hibiscus leaves and pumpkin seeds. Figueroa prefers those with a mix of fruits, legumes, and whole grains because “they provide the antioxidants and vitamins found in fruits, in addition to the fiber, protein, and heart-healthy fats found in legumes and whole grains.”
