How to drink more water without realising it!

Need to work on your hydration? We get it! Here are 15 easy ways to up your daily water intake & stay hydrated!

We always hear about how amazing water is and that we should be guzzling approximately two litres every day. But have you ever stopped to consider why?

In simplest terms, water is essential to your health.  It not only balances your body’s nutrients, but it also aids your digestion, improves your mood and energy levels, clears your skin, and is ultimately the primary building block for cells. Your body is continuously losing fluid from sweating, skin evaporation, breathing and going to the, ahem, loo. These losses must be replaced daily for good health. Drinking water will flush out the body of toxins and restore lost fluid. Hence dehydration is a big no-no when it comes to being healthy.

But don’t worry you don’t have to lug around gallons of water and drink litres and litres every day! There is actually such a thing as ‘drowning’ from overdosing on water, which is extremely dangerous and we wouldn’t want that now would we! There is also such a thing as ‘water weight’, which is when extra water builds up and can bloat/puff up the body. Neither of these is what we are after, so be careful not to overdo your water consumption.

And believe it or not, some foods already contain hidden water, which all count towards your water intake. So don’t worry, this isn’t a hard task!

With health guidelines being updated regularly, there has understandably been a bit of confusion surrounding the amount of water that individuals should be consuming daily. And so, just to update you all on what the Australian dietary guidelines currently advises, it is said that women should be consuming 2.1 litres, which is roughly 8 glasses of water. While men should be consuming 2.6 litres, which is roughly 10 glasses of water.

But if you’re like a lot of us and simply do not crave this sometimes ‘tasteless’ drink, then read on because we have some SUPER fun and easy ways for you to up your daily water intake:

1. Preplan your water intake.

Fill up your drink bottle the night before.

2. Written reminders.

Write ‘drink water!’ into your diary or on your to-do-list.

3. Carry a reusable water bottle practically EVERYWHERE.

Yes, we mean everywhere: car, work, gym, you name it! It is now and forever going to be a handbag essential. This way it is always in your sight, and will act as a constant reminder! And seeing as though it’s going to be an everyday accessory, make sure you purchase a really pretty one! Tip: buy one that is stainless steel as this is insulated and will keep your water cold all day long!

4. Make it a healthy habit!

Feeling hungry or bored? DRINK WATER when you would usually reach for the fridge.

5. Get a drink water app.

Setting audible reminders is an extremely effective and savvy way, of keeping on top of your water consumption. For example, the app Waterlogged is free to download.

6. Set rules. Start drinking water at all meal times.

Try to make sure you have one glass before and one glass during each and every meal. This will actually fill you up more, evidently reducing the risk of overeating.

7. Exercise regularly.

By exercising regularly you will acquire a natural thirst for water.

8. Drink herbal tea instead.

Give the water a yummy twist by incorporating herbal tea into your life. For example, green tea (a superfood), peppermint, mixed berry or lemongrass and ginger.

9. Try carbonated/sparkling water to jazz it up a bit.

A 2014 study on water consumption found that people who drank carbonated water were actually drinking 43% more water!

10. Add fruit to your water.

By increasing waters taste, you will be more likely to reach for it. For example grapefruit, lemon, strawberries, oranges or raspberries.

11. Add a couple of mint/basil leaves.

This will make your water just that little bit more refreshing and exciting.

12. Eat fruits and vegetables with high water content.

Some good examples of foods with high water content are tomato (94%), watermelon, cucumber, strawberries, celery, radishes, grapefruit and iceberg lettuce.

13. Eat more spicy meals.

Yep, spicy food generally makes us reach for water in order to cool down our mouths. So why not use this to our advantage, encouraging more water consumption.

14. Use a straw.

Believe it or not, this simple trick is something that a lot of people find quite helpful in drinking more water. But don’t forget to use a reusable aluminium or paper one. Wouldn’t want a little turtle to suffer from your health, eek!

15. And finally, never have an empty glass.

By constantly refilling your glass, it is likely you will drink more water as you are seeing it in front of you.

Fun fact: Did you know that the human body is made up of 60% water!

And so, with water being essential to burning calories, you cannot aim to lose weight and not include water in your routine. Make the most of the ‘fountain of youth’ that is water! And happy drinking!

Want to hear more about SFD and what we did? Find out here!