I’ve been posting a lot about drinks lately (Teeccino, green juice and now water), but it seems appropriate since everyone is talking about the World Cup and if we’re being honest, the only interest I have in cups is the beverages they contain. Plus, summer is upon us and staying hydrated in the heat is a must.
H20 is a survival essential, which is to say: imagining a life without water is imaging no life at all. After all — we consume it, cook with it and use it to clean. It always fascinates me when I come across people who do not drink water.
I love water. I’ve never had a problem getting the proper daily intake (except for that dehydration-at-the-state-fair incident). Now that I don’t drink soda, sweet teas or juices, I can truly say nothing satisfies my thirst like a cool glass of water.
Even though I love water, I admit there are times when it is the last thing I want. I’ve found that the best way to keep on track with my intake is to switch things up a bit.
There are several ways I make drinking water more exciting (and even more healthy, if you can believe it):
- Add lemon. In both warm and cold water, lemon has powerful benefits. This little fruit is packed with nutrients, including vitamin C, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Lemon water has the potential to boost your immune system, aid with digestion, flush out toxins, freshen the breath, improve the look of skin, help curb hunger cravings, reduce inflammation and more.
- Add apple cider vinegar. The ACV cocktail may not taste as delicious as an alcoholic cocktail, but it comes with less regret. For this drink, you only need one or two tablespoons per 8 ounces of water. Start with one to be safe. ACV is considered a detoxifier for its ability to purify blood and cleanse the vital organs. These cocktails, when consumed on a regular basis, can help manage hypertension, diabetes, weight loss and other conditions.
Lemon juice and ACV are acidic so consider drinking this water with a straw to avoid harming the enamel of the teeth or just make sure to brush your teeth afterwards.
- Add cucumber. Just the thought of a cold cucumber is refreshing. Adding in cucumber slices gives a subtle change of taste to ordinary water. It also helps that cucumbers are full of vitamin K, potassium, silica, and other minerals and vitamins that improve the body, inside and out.
- Add berries. I prefer blueberries, but this can be done with the berry of your choice. It gives the water a little color and taste, and the fruit is a nice little reward for finishing the glass.
- Get a new container. The more practical and aesthetically pleasing the glass I drink from, the more I drink. When I bought a big glass bottle from Ikea (pictured above) for my bedside stand, my water intake increased a lot. Just like that. It’s also a good idea to invest in a durable water bottle for when you’re out and about
There are varying opinions about how much water you should drink per day. The general rule I follow is based around weight; people should consume approximately half their weight in ounces. For example, if you weigh 100 pounds, a good goal is to drink 50 ounces of water per day. Of course drinking too much and too fast can lead to water poisoning and other problems, so be aware.
Are you a big water drinker? Do you have any tips to help people who do not like drinking water?