Tips for Maximizing Your Hydration Habits – Outside of young children, and a few very stubborn people, almost everyone understands how important it is to drink water regularly. Staying hydrated is important to cover natural water loss that occurs during the day, and it also helps your body’s cells maintain their structure. Additionally, the more water that you consume, the more equipped your bloodstream is to transport vital nutrients and resources throughout the body.
It is safe to say that drinking more water could benefit the health of almost everyone. Even those who believe that they consume enough water may in fact be drinking too little. Experts actually recommend that we drink half an ounce to an ounce of water per pound of body weight every day. That is a lot of hydration, but it is so important for the reasons mentioned above.
So how can you maximize your hydration habits to make them benefit your health as much as possible? Try out the following tips.
Add Low-Calorie Flavors
We get it, water does not always taste amazing. While it can be refreshing after a workout or during those long summer days, the reality is that most of the time, water can be pretty bland for most of us. Fortunately, there are easy ways to add some flavor without ruining the health benefits. There are plenty of powder or liquid flavorings that will bring a fruity flavor to your water, and many of them add either no calories or can boost the nutrient levels. This makes it far easier and more enjoyable to drink all that water throughout the day.
Drink Filtered Tap Water
Depending on where you live, there could be sediment or even chemicals that could leach into your water supply. Residents of Camp LeJeune, for example, were subject to contaminated water for decades, leading to lawsuits over liver cancer and other severe health issues. While water is regularly tested for toxic chemicals to ensure that it is safe, some people may live on unregulated wells. It also doesn’t hurt to take extra precautions to ensure the quality of your drinking water. Rather than drinking directly from the tap, purchase a container with filtering technology that can weed out unwanted contaminants. Or, you can buy an attachment for your faucet that achieves the same effect.
Set Alarms to Hydrate More
If you are not already in the habit of drinking a lot of water, it can be difficult to get started and remember how often you need to have a glass. This simple life hack can be a reminder that you need to hydrate every couple of hours throughout the day. You could also download a hydration monitoring app that is even more comprehensive, tracking your consumption levels and reminding you when to take a swig or two. Life can get busy, and when you are trying to adopt a new healthy habit, there is no shame in having your phone or watch remind you to hydrate in the midst of a hectic schedule.
Buy a Fun Water Bottle
Sometimes it can be easier to stay motivated to hydrate when you just have to finish one container during the day rather than multiple glasses. There are thousands of water bottles out there that you could invest in, many of which can hold large amounts of water like 32 or 64 ounces. It allows you to start the day with thoughts like “okay, I just need to drink three of these to reach my goal.” You can buy a water bottle with a fun design or decorate it yourself with stickers or logos of brands that you love. Anything is better than refilling a plain old glass over and over.
Drink After Each Bathroom Break
Forming habits is the best way to increase your hydration. One of the symptoms of dehydration is actually feeling hungry. You can alleviate that feeling of hunger in multiple ways, but drinking water after each bathroom trip is one of them. This helps you keep up with regular fluid loss by replacing those fluids right away. Plus, it guarantees that you drink water at least 5-7 separate times each day, boosting your fluid levels overall. If this becomes part of your routine, it will become easier to stay hydrated and establish a higher baseline for your water intake.
Maximizing Hydration is the Key to Wellness
When you are healthier, you feel better physically. When you feel better physically, it can also boost your mental health. A positive state of mind allows you to enjoy the day more and have more energy when interacting with friends, family, coworkers, and others. It all starts with drinking enough water to maintain your body’s cells.
There are many factors that contribute to overall wellness. Hydration can play a role in improving many of those factors. Start drinking more water each day to invest in your health and boost your well-being.
