ARE YOU DRINKING ENOUGH WATER?

Water is one of the most important substances on earth. We need water in order to survive.  Water is important and we drink it everyday, but are you drinking enough? What’s the right amount of water to drink? And why is it so important for our bodies? How exactly can staying hydrated benefit us? I’m going to explore these questions in this blog.

Why is Water Important
I just mentioned above that water is essential in order for us to survive. But what exactly does drinking water do for your body? I’ve listed a few below:

• Carries nutrients to our cells
• Removes bodily waste
• Helps regulated digestion process
• Fights fatigue / give extra energy
• Reduces inflammation
• Helps our organs function well
• Can help clear up skin
• Prevents muscle cramps
• Regulates body temperature and metabolism

And so many more! But really, there are many other reasons why water is so important to us. I wanted to name a few that I think a lot of people don’t realize.  So we know why water is important, but how much water should you drink daily?

How Much Water Should You Drink?
Like different diets, water is another controversial topic among experts. Everyone is different, and the amount of water you should drink depends on a few different factors. Some of these factors include: your activity level, how much caffeine or alcohol you’ve had, how hot it is outside and even how much water you were consuming before.

Not sure if you are consuming enough water? A very easy test is simply just to look at your urine. It should be on the light side, if it is you’re probably doing pretty good with your water intake. But if it’s dark and you don’t have a lot of urine, you are definitely dehydrated. A few more signs of dehydration include: thirsty, dry mouth, headache, weakness, dizziness or confusion.

If you stay hydrated, you can avoid these symptoms all together. A good rule of thumb is to drink 64 to 100 ounces of water a day.

Tips for Drinking More Water
It’s a common habit to forget to drink water. Hey – I’m guilty of this too! Below are a few tips to increase your water intake:

• Drink a glass of water when you wake up. This is SO good for you. You’ve been sleeping all night without drinking water, so you need to hydrate! Try and replace your morning coffee with a glass of water. You should wake up hydrating yourself, not dehydrating yourself. Drink a glass of water and save the coffee after you’ve been up for a few hours.
• Have 8 oz of water before you exercise, and make sure you are staying hydrated and drinking water during your workout.
• Try to always have a water bottle on hand. Swell Bottles are great and they keep your water cool for hours.
• Fill a pitcher of water with the amount of water you want to drink in a day. Or fill a water bottle, and count the amount of times you’ve refilled the bottle in a day. This will help you keep track of your water intake.
• Download an app! There are many different apps out there that remind you to drink water. I’ve used Plant Nanny in the past, it definitely helps!

Water Not Exciting Enough? 
Many people say they don’t drink enough water because they either don’t like the taste or it’s boring. Below are some tips to make your water a bit more exciting.

• Add some fruits or vegetables to your water to make it more exciting. Try lemon, lime, cucumber, strawberries, berries or even some orange slices. This will definitely add some flavor. If you’re looking for a functional bottle take a look at Drop Bottle.
• Add mint leaves
• Drink your favorite tea iced or hot

Hope these tips help! Don’t forget to stay hydrated!