It can sometimes be a challenge to drink enough water, but with temperatures hovering in the 90’s or even 100’s, it’s essential to find ways to stay hydrated. Your body depends on water: water helps you regulate body temperature, it helps the kidneys and liver flush out toxins, it carries nutrients throughout the body and it helps prevent constipation. Yet, many people are not getting the amount of water necessary for their body to function at its best. It’s especially important that kids and the elderly are properly hydrated.
The Institute of Medicine recommends that men drink about 13 cups of water a day and women drink about 9 cups. You may need more or less depending on how active you are, temperatures and humidity in the environment, your gender, age, if you’re ill or pregnant and if you exercise. One way you can tell you are getting enough fluid is by the color of your urine; it should be a clear or pale yellow color.
1. Wake up with water. Drink a glass of water before you have your cup of coffee or tea. Make it the first thing you do.
2. Keep water with you wherever you go. Purchase a reusable water bottle and keep it filled. If you don’t like tap water, get a water bottle with a built-in water filter.
3. Have water at your desk and in your car and sip throughout the day.
4. Swap your sodas for water. You save calories and money.
5. Keep it interesting. If you find plain water simply too boring, add a slice of lime or lemon, or try some sparkling water for the extra fizz.
6. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, especially those with a high water content such as watermelons, cantaloupes, celery sticks, tomatoes and cucumbers.