We all know that drinking water is very important, but do you ever have a hard time drinking enough water in a day?
It is recommended that you drink at least 64 oz of water a day. You should drink more if it’s hot or you are really active.
I stopped drinking diet soda almost 10 years ago because I wanted to take control of my health and feel better. However, I found that I sometimes got bored with drinking just plain water. I looked at those flavored drops you can add to your water but many of them contain artificial sweeteners just like the diet soda.
Here are just a few (of many) benefits of drinking water:
Flushes out toxins
Improves skin complexion
Aids in proper digestion
Helps fight fatigue
Aids in weight loss
5 Tips to Help You Drink More Water:
1.) Drink a large glass of water first thing when you get up in the morning. You can even get it ready the night before and keep your water bottle next to your bed so it’s easy to grab first thing – before your coffee!
I like adding lemon (or lime) water to my first glass of the day but would often find that I didn’t use up a whole bag of lemons before they went bad. I recently started cutting them up in wedges, putting them in ice cube trays with water and freezing them. Once frozen I put them in a plastic freezer bag so they last longer. Simply put a couple ice cubes in your glass and enjoy!
2.) Drink a glass of water about 1/2 hour before each meal. This can also help you eat less during the meal and is good for digestion.
3.) Infuse your water with fruits. Frozen strawberries or raspberries work great.. You can also add citrus fruits, fresh mint leaves, cucumbers or whatever you like. You have your own natural fruit-flavored water!
A couple of my favorite combinations are…
Meyer Lemons and strawberries
Cucumber and mint leaves
Meyer lemons are a cross between and regular lemon and a mandarin. They are sweeter and less acidic than regular lemons.
4.) Take a cup or water bottle with you when you are on the go. I find that if I don’t take a water bottle with me I may go for hours with nothing to drink.
5.) Get a pretty cup! I don’t know why but when I get a fun, new cup it inspires me to drink more water.