It’s no secret that drinking enough water each day is critical for enabling your body to work properly. In fact, the benefits of adequate hydration are HUGE, which is why I wrote this detailed blog about them.
Even though we know how important it is to drink lots of water, it’s estimated that around 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. WHOA!
That’s why I’ve made it my mission to help others easily form the habit of getting adequately hydrated each day.
FIRST THING’S FIRST: HOW MUCH WATER SHOULD YOU BE DRINKING?
It’s easy to figure out the minimum amount of water you should be drinking each day.
Simply take your body weight and divide it in half. That’s the minimum number of ounces you should be getting each day.
Example: Joe weighs 200 pounds. He should drink a minimum of 100 ounces of water a day (200 / 2 = 100).
Here are some tips for helping you hit your hydration mark each day:
Invest in a quality reusable water bottle you love and enjoy drinking from. I highly recommend choosing a glass bottle to avoid toxic exposure from plastic bottles, even those that are “BPA-free.” You can find loads of great glass options with various designs here on amazon.
Before going to bed each night, fill your reusable water bottle and sit it by your bathroom sink. Right after you get up in the morning and head to the bathroom, drink the entire bottle. Since you have been sleeping for multiple hours, your body is dehydrated and needs a blast of water to kick your body into “clean out” mode and start revving your energy for the day.
Take your reusable water bottle with you every place you go, so you always have it on-hand and can continuously drink water no matter where you are.
Set reminders on your phone and/or calendar that prompt you to drink water throughout the day.
“BUT PLAIN WATER IS SO BORING! I JUST CAN’T DRINK THAT MUCH EACH DAY.”
Did this thought cross your mind as you were reading how much water you should be drinking each day? I hear it ALL the time!
Heck, I remember when I first set out to become a hydration ninja. I literally had to choke my daily quota of water down for the first month.
Once I got through the initial gag-fest, however, it became such a habitual part of my day that I barely had to think about it. (I often get teased, because I always have a water bottle with me everywhere I go.)
Once you get accustomed to being adequately hydrated each day, I promise you will feel such a positive difference that you won’t want to stop. On the rare occasions that I don’t make my quota, I notice a big difference in the way I feel…sluggish, foggy, irritable and constipated.
If you absolutely detest drinking plain water, that’s actually a good thing. Why? Because your water comes to life, becomes more enhancing to your health and is more easily absorbed by your body when you infuse it with healthful ingredients.
That’s why I’ve whipped up some simple ideas below for spicing up your water, while also making it more healthful.
MEET ME AT THE WATER BAR!
Have fun with creating a water bar in your house where you make delicious water “cocktails.” Start with a mixer, choose your mix-ins and then get crazy hydrated!
Here’s how:
Mixers
You have two options for water mixers: flat water or sparkling water.
When choosing flat water, make sure the water has been adequately filtered to remove the toxic elements that are commonly found in tap water.
Unfortunately, studies show that many bottled waters aren’t much better than tap water (if at all). And many popular, heavily-marketed filters don’t even come close to getting the most harmful contaminants out of your water. YIKES!
I highly recommend investing in a reverse osmosis water filtration system to ensure you are effectively detoxing your water. Click HERE to check out the reverse osmosis water filtration system I had installed right under my kitchen sink!
I also love this portable reverse osmosis water filtration system that I can use anywhere in my house…total game-changer!!!
When choosing sparkling water, go with a high-quality option that’s sourced naturally like Perrier (sourced from France), Voss (sourced from Norway) or San Pellegrino (sourced from Italy).
Or, you can invest in a SodaStream machine like this to make your own sparkling water using your filtered water.
Mix-Ins: Fruits & Veggies
Below is a list of goodies you can add to your water to give it some natural flavor and pizazz.
These add-ins provide vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that help fight toxins in the body. Plus, they bring your water to life making it easier for your body to fully absorb and hydrate. SCORE!
- Lemon wedges
- Lime wedges
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Strawberry slices
- Orange Slices
- Kiwi slices
- Mango slices
- Pineapple slices
- Cucumber slices
- Frozen grapes, halved
- Watermelon cubes
- Honeydew melon cubes
Mix-Ins: Herbs & Spices
Here’s a list of herbs and spices you can add to your water to give them even more flare. Plus, all of these options help to cleanse and detox your body and build your immune system.
- Mint leaves
- Basil leaves
- Grated ginger
- Rosemary sprigs
- Ground cinnamon
Ice Cube Tricks
You can make fun and health-enhancing ice cubes using the lists above. For example:
Fill an ice cube tray with filtered water. Then, add a few generous squirts of lemon juice and some mint leaves before freezing. So refreshing!
RECIPES
To help you get started with rocking your water bar, here are some fun and tasty recipes to try:
- Berry Boom: Blueberries, raspberries and strawberry slices with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
- Island Dreams: Mango and pineapple slices.
- Basil Twist: Fresh basil leaves and a lemon wedge.
- Minty Melon: Honeydew melon cubes and mint leaves.
- Ginger Delight: Orange slices and grated ginger.
- Lemon Lime Soda: Sparkling water with lemon and lime wedges.
Tools
There are a few “bartending” tools that will help make your water bar experience easier, more flavorful and fun:
- Citrus squeezer. A citrus squeezer will help you get all the delicious juice out of your lemons, limes and oranges when mixing up your water cocktails. I recommend this stainless steel squeezer that has silicone handles, which make it much more comfortable to use.
- Muddler: A muddler will help you mash the fruits and herbs into your water cocktails, which makes their flavor explode! I love this muddler and mixing spoon set!
- Glass straws. Personally, I don’t use straws when drinking plain water. However, when I make a mixer using citrus or other fruits, I like drinking from a straw to protect my teeth. If you’re a straw user, I highly recommend investing in these reusable glass straws which eliminate your exposure to toxins in disposable plastic straws, reduce waste and save you loads of money in the long run!
- Cocktail glassware: Have fun drinking your water from fancy cocktail glasses you already have that were designed for sipping wine, martinis, margaritas, whiskey, etc. You’ll be putting them to use, but in a much healthier way that will never give you a hangover or fill your body with toxins!
Cheers to manifesting your best level of health by getting adequately hydrated each day!
With love and gratitude,
Kandi
DISCLOSURE: Any links to products above may be affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission – at no additional cost to you – if you purchase a product through them. (Click here to view my full Disclaimer & Disclosure statement.) This helps me continue providing FREE information to help you live a fit and fabulous life without busting your bank account. Thanks for your support!