A Water Hater’s Guide to Drinking More Water
Isabella Cannon
| 3 min read
Water is essential for every cell in the body to function correctly. Water aids the digestive system, helps prevent constipation, flushes toxins from the body, promotes good kidney function, keeps your joints and muscles lubricated and helps regulate body temperature, according to the Mayo Clinic. Your mood and sleep also benefit from being properly hydrated.
Although you may know the importance of drinking water, it can be hard to drink enough daily. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends a minimum of 11.5 cups for women and 15.5 cups for men each day. Exercise, hot weather and being sick can increase your hydration needs.
If you don’t enjoy the taste of water, you might find yourself turning to soda, juice, energy drinks and other beverages that contain a lot of added sugar. Here are some healthier ways to increase your water intake:
Add Natural Flavor
Fruit-infused water contains all the hydration of a cool glass of water and the refreshing, sweet and tangy flavors of your chosen ingredients. You can also infuse water with herbs or vegetables. Try using any combination of these ingredients:
- Lemon
- Lime
- Orange
- Peaches
- Cucumber
- Mint
- Basil
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Kiwi
Herbal teas
Loose leaf or a tea bag are good for both hot and iced tea. Tea comes in a variety of flavors and can be sweetened with a little honey or agave. It’s a good idea to aim for herbal teas that don’t contain caffeine. Caffeine is a diuretic, a substance that causes your body to pee more. If you don’t know where to start, try one of these healthy herbal teas:
- Ginger tea
- Chamomile tea
- Hibiscus tea
Sparkling or Seltzer water
Sparkling water has become a popular alternative to soda. But is it healthy? According to the Cleveland Clinic, as long as you’re drinking sparkling water with no added sugars, you’ve made an A+ choice. There are plenty of flavor options to try on store shelves.
The Cleveland Clinic suggests drinking sugar-free seltzers and mineral waters but limiting tonic water. Not only does tonic water include added sugars, but it also contains quinine, a compound that when consumed in excess can cause an upset stomach, headaches and ringing in the ears, as well as other serious side effects like organ damage, severe bleeding and changes to your heart rhythm.
Sparkling water is a great alternative to sugary soda. It may also provide indigestion relief according to a study published by the National Library of Medicine.
Eat hydrating foods
According to the Mayo Clinic, you don't need to rely only on water to meet your fluid needs. What you eat also provides a significant portion. Here are fruits and vegetables with high water content:
- Watermelon
- Spinach
- Celery
- Cucumber
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Strawberry
Other ways to meet your water needs
It’s a good idea to build a routine around drinking water. Having a routine can help keep your intake up throughout the day to keep you feeling your best. Try making it a habit to drink a glass of water at these times:
- When you wake up
- With every meal
- When you use the bathroom
Here are some other tips for keeping up your water intake:
- Keep a water bottle filled at desk if you work a desk job
- Bring a bottle with you on the go
- Track glasses of water with an app on your phone
- Ask friends and family to join in on drinking more water with you
Photo credit: Getty Images
Related:
