The short answer is: yes. Several water brands don't use artificial sweeteners, but it’s important to pay attention when reading nutrition labels and ensure flavored water brands use all-natural methods to add flavors, which is the best way to flavor water. Some of the ingredients you need to look for include lime, orange, lemon, or grapefruit because they are most likely naturally infused. Moreover, these flavors are likely to contain zero added sugars, as well.

If you're not sure whether a particular brand uses artificial sweeteners, you should consider making flavored water at home. Begin by filling your preferred bottle with ice-cold water, and add some slices of your favorite fruits. You can add more than one type of fruit, and you can also add other ingredients such as basil, a cinnamon stick, or rosemary to increase the flavor. Don’t love most fruit flavors? Consider adding cucumber for a refreshing, hydrating drink.

Why is Drinking Water Essential?

Water has many benefits to the body, including aiding digestion, boosting the appearance of skin and nails, and preventing cramping during exercise–but most importantly, it allows our organs to function at their best. It's recommended to drink eight ounces of water daily, and even more when exercising. Unfortunately, many people don’t reach this target each day–especially if they find drinking water to be boring.

Many folks may not even notice they’ve become dehydrated. Common symptoms of dehydration include muscle aches, irritability, and fatigue; unfortunately, by the time you feel thirsty, you're already dehydrated. This is why it may be a great idea to add some natural flavor to your water to incentivize you to drink it. Wondering if flavored water has the same benefits as regular water? The answer is: yes!

How to Flavor Water Naturally

Here are a few ways you can make flavored water without artificial sweeteners:

1. Use Whole Fruits

The possibilities here are endless. Some commonly preferred fruits are strawberries, pineapple, lemons, and limes. Fill up your water pitcher, add your favorite fruits, and let it sit for a couple of hours to add a hint of fruit flavor to each glass. 

2. Vegetables

One of the preferred vegetables used in water is a cucumber, as it provides a refreshing added flavor. Fill your preferred pitcher, add your cucumber, and let it sit for around four hours. You can also add in some fruits, such as strawberries, to make it more palatable.

3. Herbs and Spices

If you like natural herbs and spices, you can incorporate them into your water–basil, rosemary, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper are worth considering. Begin by pouring the quantity of water you desire into a pitcher, throw in your preferred herbs and spices, and let the water sit for about four hours before drinking.

4. Tea

Add a tea bag or two to hot water and let the flavor infuse–you can also add natural honey or lemon to boost the flavor. You can drink your tea hot, at room temperature, or chilled, but be sure to avoid using artificial sweeteners such as sugar.

5. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is made from fermenting apples and has immense health benefits. Don't add too much to your water as it is extremely acidic–instead, add just a dash, then taste the water until it reaches your preference. 

Final Thoughts

There is a wide array of possibilities when it comes to flavoring your water without any artificial sweeteners. You can do so right at home with ingredients you already have around to boost the taste of your water without any artificial flavoring or added sugars.