Drinking water is an easy health goal to check off my list. Avoiding sweets, on the other hand, is more of a challenge. After all, I had rather eat my calories than drink them, so water is a perfect choice! I have to limit many of those irresistible sweets, and it’s a constant battle of the wills!
I would venture to say that most of the population does not drink enough water. H20 is pushed aside by drinks loaded with calories and sugar. I have heard all sorts of recommendations for daily water intake from 8 glasses to half your body weight in ounces!
I am no health expert, and there are a lot of factors to consider when determining the amount of water an individual should consume on a daily basis. The Mayo Clinic has an excellent short-read article that can help you determine how much water you should drink every day to benefit your health.
Water is super important for a healthy lifestyle and does so many wonderful things for the body. For one, it keeps us alive and helps us get rid of toxins our body doesn’t need. For me, water also helps reduce cravings for not so good food choices. It’s actually possible to think you are hungry when thirst is the real issue. Drinking a glass of water before a meal can help take the edge off hunger and help you fill up more quickly.
Since hydration is so important, we have to be conscious of it and make good choices from sunup to sundown. Here are some tried and true ways that I have found helpful for staying hydrated.
Seven Ways to Drink More Water and Benefit Your Health
1. Begin drinking water early in the day.
Drink a glass of water when you wake up in the mornings and continue drinking as the day goes on. If I don’t drink water early in the morning, by the time the afternoon comes around, water isn’t appealing to me. If I drink several glasses of water by lunchtime, I’m usually set in a good pattern for the rest of the day.
2. Purchase a large cup for your water.
I have a large stainless steel tumbler that holds 30 ounces of water. My water cup is pink, and I love drinking from it just about every day! It gets washed regularly, and every once in a while I stick it in the dishwasher for a deep clean! I fill it up in the morning and refill as needed. It’s also available for on-the-go.
3. Drink water at the temperature of choice.
Sometimes I like room temperature water, and other times I drink water with lots of ice. I am able to drink room temperature water much more quickly than super cold water, however. Just drink it the way you like it best. My mother-in-law even likes her water warm!
4. Flavor water with fresh lemon.
I like to purchase large lemons and cut them in half. I use an entire half of lemon in my 30 ounce cup of water, and it tastes delicious. I don’t always flavor my water with lemons, but it’s like a treat when I do!
5. Drink filtered water.
Thankfully, I have a filter on my refrigerator, and yes, it hurts the purse when I have to replace that filter, but the benefits of drinking filtered water are worth it to me. And I definitely wouldn’t want to exclusively buy water bottles with as much water as I drink on a daily basis!
6. Drink water at meals.
I used to buy juice more often than I do now. My children drank it diluted with water, and I would drink it some too. I rarely buy it now because, as I said before, I had rather eat my calories than drink them! Plus, juice has a lot of sugar and is expensive. Water is an inexpensive drink to enjoy at any meal—breakfast, lunch, or dinner. We drink a lot of milk in my family as well, and almond milk is delicious in meal replacement shakes.
7. Take water everywhere you go!
Going shopping? Take water! You will get thirsty! Running a quick errand? Watching TV? Reading a book? Mowing the grass? Drink water. Traveling on a long trip? Exercising? Going to a restaurant? Take your water and don’t forget to drink it!
We are so blessed in the United States to have clean water for drinking, showering, washing clothes, cleaning, and much more. Take advantage of that wonderful benefit, and drink to your health!
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