Natural Choices to Add Flavor to Water

There are several options to add more flavor to water. (Getty Images)
There are several options to add more flavor to water. (Getty Images)
TT
20

Natural Choices to Add Flavor to Water

There are several options to add more flavor to water. (Getty Images)
There are several options to add more flavor to water. (Getty Images)

A recent report published by the Harvard Heart Letter stressed the importance of quitting soft drinks for their potential negative health effects, and to replace them with natural or flavored water.

Dr. Katharine Riccrod, professor of medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital of Harvard University, who participated in a large study on the link between soft drinks and the risk of strokes or heart attacks, said water is always the best choice, but there are many options to make it more appealing and flavorful, like drinking a cup of water that contains fruit slices.

If you're seeking for a low-cal alternative for soft drinks, you can try flavored water, which is available in cans or bottles and can be either sparkling or regular. You can also prepare your own drink at home. But, if you do not have the time, you can buy a bottle of fruit-enhanced water, which has a place for sliced fruit, or other flavors such as peppermint or cucumber to intensify the taste.

There are more ideas for other options to add flavor to your drinks:

- Sweet flavor: Frozen fruit, such as strawberries, berries, or pineapples, can be added to iced water or orange juice can be added to sweeten sparkling water.

- Refreshing: Some fresh mint leaves can be added to iced water.

- Strong: Unsweetened black tea or unsweetened coffee (decaf or regular) can be added on ice.

- Delicious: You can try cold herb drinks with their different flavors, such as pear, peach, raspberry, licorice or mint.

- Strong: You can drink vegetable juices such as tomatoes, cucumber, and celery. You can also prepare your own blend by using a mixer or juicer. If you buy ready vegetable juice, make sure to choose a low sodium type.

- Spicy: A few drops of honey can be added to hot water, then sprinkle a few of your favorite spices such as cinnamon, or cayenne pepper.



Faint Glow in Saturn… Did a Mystery Object Crash into the Gas Giant on Saturday?

New image captured by a NASA employee and amateur astronomer appears to show a space object crashing into Saturn for the first time. Photo: NASA
New image captured by a NASA employee and amateur astronomer appears to show a space object crashing into Saturn for the first time. Photo: NASA
TT
20

Faint Glow in Saturn… Did a Mystery Object Crash into the Gas Giant on Saturday?

New image captured by a NASA employee and amateur astronomer appears to show a space object crashing into Saturn for the first time. Photo: NASA
New image captured by a NASA employee and amateur astronomer appears to show a space object crashing into Saturn for the first time. Photo: NASA

Astronomers have called for help to identify a mystery object that may have hit Saturn on Saturday in what could be the first recorded instance of a space object crashing on to the gas giant.

Studies suggest large objects- measuring over a kilometer across – strike Saturn once every 3,125 years on an average, according to The Independent.

Although data shows seven or eight small space rocks hit the planet every year, none have been spotted in the act by astronomers so far.

Compared to rocky planets where cosmic collisions leave impact craters, gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn don’t reveal such signs.

But a new image captured by a Nasa employee and amateur astronomer Mario Rana appears to show a space object crashing into Saturn for the first time.

Since gas giants have outer layers made of hydrogen and helium, strikes by asteroids or comets can quickly fade out.

Rana is part of the DeTeCt project, which analyzes images of Jupiter and Saturn using computer software. Videos taken of Saturn by the astronomer last Saturday show a faint glow in the left side of the footage, which seems like an impact event.

The Planetary Virtual Observatory and Laboratory, or PVOL, a consortium of professional and amateur astronomers, has called for experts in the field to attempt to confirm or refute the potential impact on Saturn.

“Marc Delcroix reports a potential impact in Saturn captured in a few frames in a video observation obtained by Mario Rana. The potential impact would be very faint and is unconfirmed,” PVOL said in a statement.

“The very short impact flash occurred on Saturn on 5 July 2025, between 9am and 9.15am UT. It is very important to get other videos of Saturn taken during that time frame.”

PVOL has urged astronomers who may have also captured observations from this time to contact Delcroix and submit their data.

Leigh N Fletcher, a planetary science professor at the University of Leicester, also called for amateur space observers to share any potential videos they may have of the impact.

“Amplifying the call from Marc Delcroix and co over the weekend: the team are looking to verify/refute a potential impact on Saturn on 5 July, 9am to 9.15am UT,” Dr Fletcher wrote on BlueSky.

“Videos taken by amateur observers at that time might hold the key.”