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With warmer weather finally here, are you drinking enough water? You hear how important it is to support body temperature, and the body's natural detox process. So when you're not hydrated it impacts everything. Like your mood, memory and energy levels.
So how much water do you really need to drink? We've been told 8 glasses a day, or 64 ounces, and that's not far off. But the actual recommendation is 93 ounces a day for women, and 125 for men, and about 20% of that comes from foods like fruits and veggies, so woment need to drink about 75 ounces of water a day on average and more when you exercise or outside on a hot day.
If you’re concerned about getting the proper amount of water, these are some ways to boost your intake:
Replace sugary drinks - Swap sodas, sweet tea, sports drinks and beverages that have sugary add-ins with water.
Set reminders - Let your phone help you remember to down water throughout the day.
Use a water bottle - Fill it up and set it on your desk to remind you to drink up.
Have water with meals - If you down a glass of water with each of your three meals, you’re on your way to staying well-hydrated.
Spruce it up - If you’re not a fan of plain water, add a splash of 100% fruit juice or cucumber, lemon, lime, mashed berries, ginger or mint as a healthy add in.
Drink water when you wake up - Start your day with a glass of water before breakfast or coffee.
Make festive ice cubes - Give your ice cubes some flair by adding some juice, berries, or other fruit to each cube in your ice tray.
Make it bubbly - In terms of hydration, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a fan of still or sparkling water. If you’re worried about the carbonated water eroding tooth enamel, the American Dental Association says sparkling water has about the same effect on enamel as regular water. Just be sure to choose a carbonated water without artificial sweeteners and flavors.
So are you drinking enough water? Another good tip is to drink your weight in ounces. No matter how you get it, summer is here, and you'll need to hydrate.