Are You Drinking Enough Water?

When it comes to filling up on fluids, drinking water is something most people just don’t do enough. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it can be hard to keep track of how much water you’ve consumed every day, especially when the benefits of water can sometimes seem so subtle or irrelevant. But the fact of the matter is, drinking water can have countless subtle effects on your daily life, your performance, and your long-term health.

So what’s the easiest way how to tell if you’re drinking enough water? It’s simple:

Listen to your body.

Your body has a built-in mechanism to let you know when it doesn’t have enough water––thirst. Your body loses water throughout the day from your sweat glands and urine, and that water needs replenishing. When you’re thirsty, don’t ignore your body, and don’t swap out the water for sodas, teas, or coffees. Caffeine is a diuretic, which will only cause even more fluid loss. Dehydration plays out in a myriad of ways, and they aren’t limited to the classical symptoms of severe dehydration. Sure, you can get headaches, faint, feel nauseous or get dizzy spells, but there are several stops on the road to dehydration that play out much more immediately and have a much subtler impact on your health. For example, even being mildly dehydrated can hinder cognitive performance. It can also cause bloating and water retention, as well as bad breath. Additionally, dehydration can cause irritability, frustration, and anxiety, so it’s worth paying attention to your water levels when you’re in a bad mood.

While not drinking water has a lot of downsides, actually drinking it has a host of benefits: Drinking enough water can boost your immune system, help you lose weight, and reduce the cell damage that causes the skin to age over time.

Here are a few ways to add more water to your daily routine.

1. Start and end your day with a glass of water. Our lives are so hectic today that we don’t even stop to think about our food and drink choices throughout the day. Make a habit of drinking a glass of water when you get up in the morning and one before you go to bed. That will help to add a couple of more glasses to your daily consumption.

2. Add more ice to your smoothies and drinks. If you’re not a fan of drinking water this is a great way to add it to your daily consumption. If you add 4 ice cubes to your glass that will add almost a half cup of water to your drink without you knowing it. Pretty sneaky!!!

3. If you take supplements or medication, take them with a full glass of water.

4. Carry a refillable water bottle with you. This will help you monitor the amount of water you are consuming daily.

5. If you’re not a fan of just drinking plain water, add some lemon, lime, cucumber, or other fruits and herbs to give it a flavor you could enjoy.

So when you get ready for the day, make a little extra time to get enough water in your system and stay hydrated.