Unless you woke up thirsty at 3:00am, I’m sure we can all agree that getting enough water and staying hydrated isn’t always easy. Health experts recommend we drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day, but only 43% of adults drink just half of that. I know personally getting enough water is a struggle and honestly, I would so much rather drink anything but water.
Drinking the correct amount of water is so important and has many benefits— from maximizing physical performance to fewer headaches. Even mild dehydration can affect you physically and mentally.
Now that we know we need to drink water and lots of it, here are some of my favorite tips to make drinking water easier and less of a chore.
1. Infused Water
One of my absolute favorite ways to make water a little bit tastier is by infusing it with fruits. You can customize it however you like. Here are some of my favorite ingredients to make water more flavorful: lemon, cucumber, strawberries, mint, lime, ginger, basil, and watermelon. Infused water is best 2 to 4 hours after you've made it, that way it has the most flavor. Depending on what you infuse your water with, you may also be getting extra nutrients! Flavorful and healthy; it’s a win, win!
2. Use an app to track your cups
Now more than ever, our lives revolve around our phones. As you spend time on it throughout the day, you might as well use it for health benefits as well. There are several apps that help you to track how much water you’ve drank, give you reminders to take a sip, motivate you along the way, and honestly make it a lot more fun. Some of my favorite apps are Aloe Bud, Drink Water Reminder, Plant Nanny, Aqualert, and My Water Balance. All of these apps have one thing in common, they help remind you about drinking water, they calculate how much water you still need, and if you forget to drink water or don’t make your goal, they give you tips on how to improve your water intake.
3. Eat Water-Rich Foods
One sneaky way to get more water intake is by eating water-rich foods.There are many healthy foods that can help contribute lots of water into your diet. Though there are so many examples of water-rich foods, here are some of my favorite examples: watermelon (92% water), peaches (89% water), cantaloupe (90% water), strawberries (91% water), oranges (88% water), cucumbers (95% water), and grapefruit (88% water).
Staying hydrated is tough, I know. Hopefully these tips gave you some ideas on how to drink water without the big hassle. And remember, you don't always have to drink just plain ol' water. You can drink delicious infused water or water-rich foods. Stay hydrated!
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