Everyone, from your gym instructor to your doctor, will recommend drinking plenty of water daily. And that’s simply because there are many reasons why you must increase your water intake.
The many benefits of drinking more water include improved physical performance, the treatment or prevention of headaches, increased energy levels, and weight loss. Any minor dehydration can affect a person mentally and physically. Therefore, you must consume sufficient water to satisfy your body's needs.
However, regardless of how badly you want to accomplish your hydration goals, you may end up drinking less than the required quantity. You may have forgotten or overlooked the importance of staying on top of your daily fluid intake needs. So, what should you do to hit your hydration goals every day? Here are some tips below:
Always Carry A Water Bottle
The most effective way to increase water consumption is to make water more accessible throughout the day. Always bringing reusable water bottles such as tumblers will guarantee that you always have access to water and serve as a reminder to consume it.
Once you drink up all its contents, you could perhaps find bottle free coolers to be able to drink more water safely. Also, ensure to have a bottle that fits comfortably in your backpack so you can transport it to work or elsewhere.
Create Or Set Reminders
Reminders can aid in habit formation. Luckily, these days, it's easier to set regular reminders. Whether you utilize your phone's reminder settings or post reminders around your home or office, setting up regular reminders can save your life. The reminders could be very helpful, particularly if you consistently find yourself preoccupied with work, errands, and other areas of your day.
Strive To Replace Sugar-Filled Drinks With Water
It's alright to treat yourself to drinking soda or other sugary beverages. However, if you take them frequently, you may raise your risk of metabolic syndrome, elevated cholesterol levels, impaired glucose tolerance, and high blood pressure. Instead of maintaining your soda consumption, establish a goal to replace it with water. You may also add ice or ice cubes packed with fruit flavors to make your drink more refreshing. Ultimately, it's a healthier alternative.
Consume A Glass Of Water Before Each Meal
If you usually eat three times a day, you may want to consider drinking a glass of water before each meal. This will enable you to lose weight, feel more energized, and enhance your skin. However, although this helps you hit your hydration goals, some dietitians assert that it may interfere with your digestion.
Find Insightful Quotes About Drinking Water
If you need a reminder as to why you need to drink more water, some quotes about water consumption are likely to come in handy. You may find plenty of great quotes by conducting a simple image search on the internet. If you find nice quotations, you may print them and post them in an area where you’ll see them frequently.
Flavor Your Water
If you find it hard to drink sufficient water or just don't like the taste of water, you might want to add flavors to it. You could use fresh fruit, soak some vegetables, infuse herbs and spices, or buy water additives to add a savory flavor. Avoid consuming excessive amounts of sugar, artificial sweeteners, and other additives, though.
Consume More Foods Rich In Water
Only 80% of your daily water intake is estimated to come from liquids. The 20%? They come from food. Among the foods that are high in water include apples, cucumber, lettuce, watermelon, peaches, tomatoes, and broth. Not only are these foods rich in water, but they're also very nutritious.
Water content in such foods is greater than you might think. While it may be tough to track these amounts, your body will reward you nonetheless. So, make sure you eat more fruit and veggies every day.
Drink Water After Using The Restroom
Another tip to increase your water intake is to plan on taking many toilet breaks throughout the day. This could serve as an excellent reminder to drink a cup of water and maintain the beneficial habit of drinking more.
Final Thoughts
If you follow the tips mentioned above, you could be adequately hydrated throughout the day. Not only that, but you will feel better every day too.
In addition, it's important to acknowledge and celebrate any progress, no matter how great or minor. A small amount of self-care can go a long way and will inspire you to fulfill your daily water intake goals.
The content is intended to augment, not replace, information provided by your clinician. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Reading this information does not create or replace a doctor-patient relationship or consultation. If required, please contact your doctor or other health care provider to assist you in interpreting any of this information, or in applying the information to your individual needs.