Ways to stay more hydrated.

I don’t know about you, but it’s really hard for me to get even 8 cups of water a day. I have no idea how people just chug down bottles of water at a time without wanting to throw up. Since I know the struggle, here’s a few things I’ve used that have helped me stay hydrated.

1. Buy a reusable water bottle
   • I love using bottles with straws because you don’t really realize how much you’re drinking so you end up drinking a lot. Personally, I really love Camelbak’s because they hold a lot of water without being too bulky. ++ I love that they come in all sorts of colors and sizes so that’s great: 
   • Carry a gallon around with you or keep it where you’re usually at. It can be a glass mason jar you keep in your car or reuse a milk gallon and mark off the sides with a sharpie so you can finish a little bit throughout the day. They also sell premarked gallons like this on Amazon:
2. Keep a bottle next to you all the time.
   • As a student who works as well as has a ton of stuff to do, I know how hard it is to prioritize and if you’re anything like me, you won’t make too much effort to go out of your way to get water often. If you keep a bottle on your desk, next to your bed, bag etc like I do, you’ll be more likely to take sips and keep hydrated. If you buy a reusable one like I mentioned above, you won’t have plastic bottles laying around EVERYWHERE and you’re doing more for the environment.
3. Put flavors in your water
   • For some reason, I can’t drink too much water because I can’t really stand the taste and I know it sounds ridiculous but many people feel the same way. I used to infuse water a lot but then that starting feeling like a chore and honestly, it’s just extra work and you can benefit more from just eating the whole fruit or vegetable. I usually just add a little bit of:
     • Juice
     • A few fruit pieces
     • Cucumbers
     • Mint
     • Squeeze a lime/lemon
     • Add in honey
     • Mix in a powder (they have things like Tang etc, they’re not healthy but if a little bit helps you tolerate drinking more, do it)
4. MAKE POPSICLES.
   • I feel like a child but it’s true. It’s so easy to make homemade popsicles. It’s really just about getting the mold and filling it with what I mentioned above and adding some water and freezing it.
5. Get a juicer or blend juices.
   • Buy a bunch of water-rich fruits and vegetables and just juice often to get a healthy intake which will include all of your needed nutrients. Personally, I don’t recommend juicing because a lot if not all the fiber is stripped out which is very nutritious for you. Just throw some stuff together that you think would taste good and make your own fruit/vegetable juices. Here are some fruits and vegetables that are water-rich:
     • Grapefruit
     • Watermelon
     • Strawberries
     • Cantaloupe
     • Honeydew
     • Melons
     • Lemons
     • Peaches
     • Pears
     • Blackberries
     • Papayas
     • Nectarines
     • Pineapples
     • Plums
     • Oranges
     • Cucumbers
     • Lettuce
     • Celery
     • Cabbage
     • Radishes
     • Watercress
     • Zucchini
     • Squash
     • Tomatoes
     • Bell peppers
     • Asparagus
     • Portobello mushrooms
     • Swiss chard
     • Cabbage
     • Cauliflower
     • Turnips
6. Cook/Eat spicy foods
   • I know this may not be ideal for a lot of you but the spicier something is, the more water you tend to chug. On top of that, spicy foods also boost your metabolism. Be careful with this though and don’t go to what you really can’t handle because you don’t want to get heartburn or anything.
7. Try making a habit out of it
   • It’s really good to drink water as soon as you wake up, before meals and right before bed so if you can, have a talk with someone you usually see or talk to around those times and try to work together towards this goal. There are also a lot of apps that will send you reminders like Waterlogged etc.
8. Opt for carbonated water
   • Many kinds of water are carbonated, including sparkling mineral water, club soda, sparkling water or ‘seltzer water’, tonic water, and soda water. Mineral water, club soda, and soda water typically contain dissolved minerals such as potassium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, or potassium sulfate which are meant to enhance its flavor, though sparkling water is water combined only with carbon dioxide with no other additives. Tonic water includes quinine.
   • I know there are a lot of options out there and a ton of machines but if you’re a soda lover, these alternatives would be beneficial for you.  All of these different types of carbonated water are available in ready-to-drink bottles and cans like LaCroix etc but you can also make some at home with a soda maker.

 

What are some tips you guys have for staying hydrated?

Stay hydrated, stay healthy, stay happy.

 

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