Water is good for you, and I cannot stress enough how important it is for you to stay hydrated all the time. Our bodies are composed of 80% water. This includes our blood, muscles and all our internal organs. Everything inside of us needs water to function properly. Without water, life will cease. We literally cannot exist without it, and to keep our body performing at tip top condition, we must make it a habit to drink up. Now put down that soda can, and integrate these 6 ways to increase your water intake, in your everyday life.
Bring a Water Container With You Everyday
Get yourself a good water container, and bring it with you everyday, everywhere you go. I've made it a habit to fill up my Kleen Kanteen every morning before I leave the house. I like this brand because I prefer having my water cold, and the insulated containers do that pretty well for me, even with ice. It doesn't have to be big. For water bottles, the convenience if its size should be your main consideration. You are sure to find a place to refill your bottle. So just make sure that you get one that you can carry around, fits in your bag, and will not spill.
Also, having a reusable container is better for the environment. It's also cheaper since you won't have to buy every time you get thirsty. Besides, water should be free. Bring your own.
Set Visual Reminders
Use how your mind processes information and use it to make effective changes in your water habits. If you're a visual learner make signs and place them where you can easily see them. On your fridge door, on your desk at work, or even on your laptop or mobile device. Oftentimes, it's not that you don't want to drink water, it's just that you forget to. These visual cues will help fix that. If you're more of an auditory learner, set alarms on your mobile device that goes off every 3 hours, reminding you to drink up.
Make It Yummy
Add a little fun to your water by infusing. Cut up a few fruits and vegetables and add them to your water containers at home. There's also the option of squeezing them into the water, but I prefer just dunking them in. This also allows you to refill the same container since your infused fruit is good for more than one fill. Some of my favorite combinations you can try are:
- Lemon / Lime
- Cucumber and Mint
- Rainbow Water ( Orange, Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit)
- Calamansi
I also like making tea infusions. Make a concentrated version of your favorite tea in a cup with hot water, let it sit for a while longer than usual. Take out the teabag let it cool, and pour it into a tall pitcher. Now fill it up with cold water, throw in a few ice cubes, and stick it in the fridge!
Make the Switch
Trade your usual soda for water instead. This switch seems daunting at first, but trust me it's not impossible. Sugar is addictive, so if you've always had these colorful fizzy drinks in your diet, there's a very high chance that you, my friend, are addicted to sugar. So, how do we wean yourself out of it, you ask? -- Get it out of sight.
Purge your home of all sodas, sugary drinks, and artificially sweetened beverages. Your home is your first line of defense in a world that is full of preservatives, and fake food. Clean it up. Ditch all of what doesn't do your body good, and make it a rule that no one is allowed to bring anything of this sort home. The habits you form at home, are the same habits you carry outside. So make the decision to clean up your kitchen. It will feel like an uphill struggle especially if you're doing this for the first time. But trust me, it's worth it.
Ease Into It
The known rule of 8 glasses of water a day no longer holds truth. Scientists say that the body requires way more than 8 glasses of water to stay hydrated. Factors like fitness activity, the weather, and your body mass all affect the amount of water required. This means that there is no hard set rule we can peg down for everyone. Because different bodies, will have different requirements. Visit your nutritionist to know for sure.
However, 8 glasses is not a bad place to start. Stop thinking that increasing water intake means drinking gallons and gallons of water overnight. Ease into this new habit, and make it a positive experience. You can start with 8 classes and use it as a benchmark. From there, slowly increase depending on what your body needs in a day. If you know you're hitting the gym, drink a bit more. Every time you need to go to the bathroom, drink water to replenish lost fluids. Slowly but surely is the way to go.
Eat Your Water
Eat more fruit! Most fruits abundant here in our wonderfully tropical country have high water content. Grab a watermelon as a snack, a papaya, or maybe singkamas paired with a little bit of bagoong or chili salt. We're also abundant in coconuts! They run an average of 25 pesos a nut.
So there you have it. 6 ways to increase your water intake. Bottoms up!