Jill Starbuck
The Nurturing Well by: Jill Starbuck
Most of us realize that we need to drink a certain amount of water daily to obtain optimal health. However, many of us fall short. Some of us are so conditioned to drinking small amounts of water that we don’t know how to squeeze in the proper amount. Before we know it, the day is over and we’ve only had a glass or two of water. Others simply get bored with water.
Try the following tips to increase your water intake if you are among those who don’t get enough water.
- Keep it near you at all times. You are much more likely to increase your water intake if it is readily available. Using a straw can also help encourage you to grab frequent sips. Consider investing in a portable water bottle that you can refill versus buying bottled water. Bottled water is expensive and most plastic is terrible for the environment.
- Filter it. Don’t like the taste of tap water? Invest in a water filter. There are tons of options that are relatively inexpensive. For instance, check out the filters that you place directly on your faucet. Or filter pitchers such as Brita.
- Add flavor. Bored with plain ol’ water? Try adding cucumbers or fruit. Squeeze a fresh lemon for added flavor. But hold the lemon while at restaurants. Studies show that those lemons are loaded with germs.
- Eat more water-based fruit and veggies. Keep oranges, grapes, tomatoes, and the like nearby. These are great sources of water and nutrition.
- Drink first thing in the morning. Studies show that a warm glass of water first thing in the morning gets the digestive tract moving. If you start to do this every morning, it becomes a habit and you’ll have one glass down before you do anything else for the day.
These are just some of the tips to help you achieve your daily water intake. If you only drink half of the recommended ounces or less, then ease your way into it. Otherwise, you will spend your day running to the bathroom and feeling waterlogged. Eventually your body will become accustomed to the proper amount of water.
