Ways to Hydrate Without Being Tethered to Your Water Bottle

I often hear people say, "yeah I know I need to drink more water but I don't like drinking water."

There are so many ways to make hydrating taste delicious - here are a few ideas to hydrate without being tethered to your water bottle.

Firstly, designate a favorite water glass for yourself, it becomes a visual reminder. Having your favorite water glass easily accessible is also important. This means making sure it's washed and ready to go - each time you get the message from your brain and body that it's time to hydrate!

Next, let's talk about making your water more delicious! One of the easiest ways to flavor your water is putting your favorite tea bag in your glass, it will infuse with flavor without you having to boil up water. Or, you could add sprigs of peppermint, lemon balm, lemon basil or whatever you may have growing in a pot or garden, and it will infuse into your water in minutes. The essence of herbs takes over and makes drinking water a delight. A glass pitcher stuffed with sprigs of herbs is as beautiful as a vase full of flowers - keep one chilled in your fridge and drink to herbaceous hydration!

Adding fruits and/or veggies also enhances the taste and charges the water with minerals. Along with elevating the taste of water, this tip is also visually pleasing.

Another option to hydrate is to eat your water. That's right! You can do this with cucumbers, watermelon, blueberries, honeydew melons to name a few. Eating water is very hydrating and incredibly beneficial with all of the fiber, minerals, etc. that go along with it each bite! When you make your meals with zucchini, spaghetti squash, tomatoes, lettuce and other high water content veggies you can also increase your hydration.

A way to motivate yourself to stay hydrated is to know how much your kidneys, your liver (actually, all of our organs!) and skin are benefiting. Imagine your bladder dried out, looking like a deflated balloon. This is a perfect breeding ground for bacterial growth. Next, imagine a constant flow of water washing and cleansing your organs of any debris, brimming with health. We all know what a well-hydrated plant looks like, just translate that to your insides and be sure to water yourself. We surely wouldn't go without taking a shower, hydrating is like taking an internal shower. By using these visualizations you may find it to be a helpful reminder about why hydration is so key to good health.

Have ever experienced headaches due to being dehydrated? This common occurrence shows us how much our brain also needs to be well-watered. There have been many studies on cognitive fatigue and impaired exercise performance when we are dehydrated. Another study showed weight loss when 2 glasses of water were chugged 30 minutes before a meal. Did you know that drinking water with a meal actually dilutes the enzymes that help us digest our food? So on the contrary, don’t drink water with a meal but rather sip a little wine with dinner. Red wine has enzymes that help digest food, as well.

When we sweat we loose electrolytes, and electrolytes help maintain the electric voltage throughout our cells so that signals can pass easily. The best way to replenish electrolytes is to drink coconut water. Nature provided the perfect fruit to keep us hydrated while sunning beside salt water oceans.

Speaking of salt, adding a pinch of sea salt to your water can help replenish electrolytes as well. Apple cider vinegar is another electrolyte replenisher. When you know you are feeling dehydrated, and likely low on electrolytes it is best to stay away from Gatorade or other pre-fab flavored drinks they are only filled with chemicals that are bodies don't recognize. Try one of these natural solutions next time you would have typically reached for a manufactured beverage to increase your electrolytes.

Not to be crude, but the best way to be sure you are well-hydrated is to check the color of your urine, it should be a light straw color. If you are dehydrated your urine will be a concentrated yellow or even orange, yuck! Take a look at this urine chart that maps the colors to avoid, and give us an easy to ready visual on our hydration heath. Keep in mind, certain medications and supplements may change the color of your urine - but that light straw color is healthiest!

I have only touched some of the benefits of staying hydrated, but I think you get the idea. Here's to hoping this blog inspires you to some more drinking and hydrating in your day to day.

Drink and be merry with health!

Michelle

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