Drinking Like A Fish: 4 Tips to Get More Water In

The Get Real to Heal team is all about staying hydrated, which is why we are running a water challenge starting October 15th. For that week we are challenging you to stay hydrated.  In other words we want to see you drinking more water, like this guy up here. 

How Much Water Are You Drinking...Really?

One of the first questions we always ask clients is how much water are you drinking? In most cases, while people believe they are drinking enough, they are actually dehydrated. You should be consuming half your body weight in ounces of water daily. For example, someone that weighs 150 pounds would require 75 ounces—or about two litres of water daily. If you’re thinking “WTF, I can’t drink all that!” I used to feel the same way. I confess I used to be one of those people that would drink anything other than water. The key for me was changing it up, so rather than drinking plain old H2O, I started finding ways to spruce it up.

Signs You Might Be Dehydrated

Before I share my tips, let’s have a quick look at some signs you might dehydrated:

• Dry mouth
• Headaches
• Dark urine
• Sore joints/stiff muscles
• Hunger/cravings
• Fatigued
  

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms it may be a sign that you need to increase your water intake. Okay, so let’s look at some ways you can mix it up!

4 Ways To Drink More Water

_{Photo by Sweet Ice Cream Photography on Unsplash}

1. Herbal Tea

With the cooler weather here, I love drinking warm tea. Not only are the teas tasty, but they have nutritional value as well, herbal teas are high in antioxidants and minerals. They can be used for several reasons, such as relaxation, soothing an upset stomach, boosting energy and improving digestion.

A few favorites:

• Peppermint
• Rooibos
• Chamomile
• Lavender
• Ginger
• Lemon Balm
• Dandy Blend (great as a coffee replacement)

2. Infused water

Another delicious way to spice up your water is by adding in fruit, vegetable or herbs. You can add your favorite combos to a pitcher of water and let it sit for a few hours or overnight. I have shared my favorite infused water blend with you below

3. Coconut water

This one is easy there is nothing for you to do. Coconut water is the liquid found is young coconuts. It contains the electrolytes magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium and sodium, making it a great post workout or hangover drink. A study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology and Applied Human Science indicated coconut water is more effective to rehydrate than regular water after a workout.  

4. Eat It

Yes, eat your water! Just another reason we should be consuming fruits and vegetables. In addition to all the vitamins and minerals, fruits and veggies are hydrating. Always aim to cover half your plate with vegetables at each meal.