Staying hydrated is hard. In this day and age, many of us have busy lives and a million things on our mind. Maintaining a healthy water intake gets put on the backburner, and this can have negative effects on our health. 
Up to 70 percent of your body is made of water, so it’s safe to say that water is essential to keep us feeling good. Drinking enough water comes with many health benefits. Ample water supply will increase your brain power and mental clarity, allowing you to focus and improving emotional stress. Water flushes out the toxins in your body and keeps body systems running efficiently. Water prevents headaches, prevents cramps and boosts your immune system. Not only that, it has been shown that drinking plenty of water gives your skin a healthier glow and improves your overall appearance. Scientists and doctors usually recommend a water intake of around 2 liters a day. Of course, this amount varies from person to person. If a person regularly partakes in physical activity, lives in a hot climate, or has a larger mass, they will likely require more water. Those who are suffering from illness and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding will also need to consider drinking more water, as both of these factors reduce water level.But as mentioned before, staying hydrated is easier said than done. Here are some tips that will help you stay hydrated.
Keep a water bottle on hand
It sounds simple, but it really does help. Keeping a water bottle on hand wherever you are helps ward off thirst. Whenever you become thirsty and don’t have a drink on hand, you’ll be much more tempted to grab a bottle of soda or drink coffee. It’s a good idea to keep a bottle of water in your bag or on your desk at work so that you always have a source there to sip on. The more water you drink, the more you’ll feel the benefits and be tempted to drink more.
Invest in a new water bottle
You’ve probably heard of people buying a new gym outfit to motivate them to workout. Well, the same thing applies to drinking more water. By putting a financial investment into your goal, you’ll be much more motivated to see it through. After all, you don’t want the money you’ve spent on the bottle to go to waste. Get a bottle that incentivizes you to drink. Pick your favorite color and a style that best pleases you. And remember, keep it by your side as much as possible.
Track water intake
Tracking your water intake will make it easy to see when you’re not drinking enough water. Seeing visually how far you are from your goal should motivate more you to reach it. There are many ways that you can track your water intake. One way is to buy a certain size bottle (eg:1 liter) and then count how many bottles you drink a day. You can write it down if you’re forgetful. If you’re tech-savvy, there are apps which will track your water intake and remind you when to drink. This takes a lot of effort out of staying hydrated and keeps you on track. There is even Bluetooth water bottle which automatically measures the amount of water consumed, so it really is easy to make sure you’re getting enough.
Choose water
By simply switching your usual soda at the restaurant or morning coffee for water- you can massively increase your water intake. Although this may prove difficult at first, with time, choosing water will become second nature. After cutting out sugary and unhealthy drinks for an extended period, you will soon realize that you don’t miss them at all. Especially when you are feeling the amazing effects of meeting your daily water needs. Yes, all drinks contain water in some form, but nothing beats a glass of pure water to get you feeling lively
Check the color of your pee
Believe it or not, the color of your urine can be a huge indicator of your hydration levels. Checking the color of your urine can tell you if you are in need of more water. Urine should be a pale straw color. As the color of your urine gets darker, this is an indication that you may want to drink more water. Amber/dark yellow/yellow-brown urine are signs of dehydration, and if you see this you should seek water immediately. On the other hand, if your urine is completely transparent, you may want to cut back on the water- because believe it or not, you can drink too much.
Hydrate with food
The foods you eat can account for up to 20 percent of your daily water intake. There are many foods that are naturally rich in water, and therefore are perfect to eat to stay hydrated. Lots of fruit and vegetables are naturally rich in water. For example: watermelon, cucumber, berries, oranges, and tomatoes. Not only are these foods water-rich, but they contain lots of healthy essential nutrients, so it’s a good idea to include plenty of these in your diet. They are great as a pre or post workout snack, and they also taste great, so they’re a delicious way to stay hydrated.
Drink water heavily before and after a workout
With more physical activity comes a greater need for water. Workouts cause faster water loss through the sweat produced, and this can lead to dehydration. To avoid fatigue, headaches and mental stress following a workout, you need to make sure you are drinking lots of water both before and after your session. Gymequipment has created a hydration calculator which you can use to calculate your ideal water intake, this will also improve workout performance and allow you to feel the full positive effects of your exercise.
In conclusion
Water is very important. Your body utilizes water in all of its cells, organs, and tissues. Therefore, when your bodies need for water isn’t met, ill effects come along with it. By following the tips provided in this article, you should be able to stay hydrated properly and feel ready to take on the world.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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