We all know we need to drink more water, but it can be tough. How much is enough? What if you don’t like the taste of water? How can you prevent needing to go to the restroom too often? Here are some guidelines to help ensure you’re hydrating in a healthy way.
For optimal well-being, we should aim to drink at least half of our body weight in ounces each day. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, your goal is to drink 100-200 ounces of fluid each day. To put this in perspective, a one-gallon milk jug is 128 ounces.
It can be difficult to make sure you’re hitting this target every day, but there are some tips that can help you be successful. First, we do want to focus on drinking water more than any other beverage. Our bodies are mostly made up of water, so nothing can replace the benefits we get from good old H2O. Make sure you have a water bottle with you at all times. Have one filled up on your night stand so you can start off your day with a couple cups as soon as you wake up. Drinking water actually helps with energy and mental awareness, both of which are wonderful things we all need in the morning!
There are a lot of free apps that allow you to track your daily intake. A few examples are Water Alert, the Fitbit App, Daily Water, iHydrate, and Waterlogged. Find one that works for you and use it each day. You may also think about purchasing a gallon sized water bottle and marking it with specific goals. For instance, make lines at ¼, ½ and ¾, then indicate the time of day you should have consumed that amount. You may aim to hit the top line may be by 9am, the middle by 12pm, the third by 3pm and to finish it by 6pm.
If you’re bored of water and want to try something with more flavor, there are ways to take the taste up a notch. Try infusing the water with fruit or herbs to add some sweetness and flavor. Try watermelon with mint, cucumber and rosemary, orange and blueberry, or strawberry with lemon for a perfect punch of flavor. On the go, try some liquid water enhancers with natural flavors and no artificial sweeteners. Sweet Leaf water drops and Stur are great options that can be found at most grocery stores. Coconut water, herbal tea and plain iced tea are great options to add to your hydration arsenal.
Sip on fluids throughout the day rather than gulping them down in large amounts. This helps make sure your body can absorb the fluid and helps eliminate extra urges to use the restroom. Also try to stop drinking a couple hours before bed time if you find you wake up during the night to eliminate fluids. Find what works for you and stay consistent. Being hydrated will help your energy, metabolism and brain function!