10 ways to increase your water intake and prevent dehydration this season

“ I’m always weirdly proud when my pee is clear. Like, hell yea. I am so damn hydrated.”– Jennifer Mccall

Although the fact that drinking water is essential for staying healthy, aiding in weight loss, and managing diabetes, not many people put drinking more water at the top of their to do list. Having a busy work routine, always forgetting to drink water, or simply hating to drink plain water may be the reasons that prevent people from drinking enough water.
“In order to stay hydrated, one’s intake of fluids must match their outputs. The adequate daily fluid intakes as set by the European Food Safety Authority and by the NHS vary between 1.6—2.5L a day.” According to Water UK.
So how to drink enough water in daily life? Here are ten tips.

1. Add natural fruit and herbs for water flavoring


Cutting whatever fruits you like into slices, and add them to your water can add more flavors. For richer flavor, squeezing them into juices may help. Freeze little bits of lemon, cherry, and lime, which can be used as ice cubes, will make your spring time more tasteful. You can also add leaf herbs, as mint to enhance your consumption activity.

2. Track your water, record how much water you’ve drunk.


 
For recording the specific volume of water you consume everyday, there are some apps available on smartphones like Waterlogged and Daily Water, which can also send you reminders to drink water.

3. Carry a water bottle with you throughout the day


One of the reasons that people don’t drink enough water is that they don’t have water with them. Put a bottle of water besides your hands, you can take a sip while you are studying, working, watching TV, cooking meals or searching the Internet.
Also, invest in a nice and reusable bottle will motivate you to drink more water. Make sure that you always refill your water bottle when it is empty.

4. Try different types of water


There are many types of water in the market, such as spring, mineral, sparking.
As Cindy Dyson from Spark People once said, “Think of water drinking like wine tasting. Taste the various brands and types of bottled water available.”

5. Drink a glass of water before each meal.


Numerous studies have shown that drinking water before meals can result in consuming less calories at those meals, which can ultimately lead to weight loss.  More importantly, drinking a glass of water 30 minutes before your meals helps digestion.
“If the water that’s consumed has a high level of calcium or magnesium in ti, such as ‘hard water’, those minerals may activate certain enzymes that help with fat digestion. More research is needed.” Information provided by writer Doris Chuang, posted in Staying Health.

6. Replace your daily vitamin tablets with vitamin water drops


Have you considered combining your vitamin supplements with your water? There are several powdered vitamin supplements that are designed to be mixed with water.

7. Keep sipping throughout the day by using a straw


Writer Melissa Harrison from BuzzFeed recommends using a fun straw to help you drink more water.

8. Make deadlines for yourself, and include it in your daily routine.


DIY a custom bottle with deadlines can be a good way to help yourself hit the goals!  Also, if you can form a daily routine for drink water at correct time, it would be greatly helpful for your health.

9. Make a water buddy


Don’t have confidence on keeping on the right track by yourself? Find someone who would like to share the goal with you, make a “water buddy”!

10. Set yourself rules and reward yourself to hitting the target


If you are a fruit juice or coffee lover and can’t cut it out of your diet, try to make rules like “before I drink a cup of juice or coffee, I should drink at least two cups of water first.”
Of course, when you’ve hit your daily water target, reward yourself with healthy snacks!