To tell you the truth I wish I could drink diet soda 24 hours a day. I am so lucky I DON'T live in Utah because my car would be headed into Swig every time I was nearby. I love, love, love soda and yet I know the chemicals in it are not good for me and that it can actually cause rather than relieve dehydration.
And like many people I do NOT love, love, love drinking water. Yet simply adding water to your diet is an effective way of nourishing healthier skin and hair, as well as flushing your system of toxins, boosting your immune system and much more. So how much water should we be drinking? For this competition we have been requiring you to drink a minimum of 48 ounces of water per day, but many experts recommend you drink between half an ounce and an ounce of water for each pound you weigh, every day. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, that would be about 10-20 cups of water per day or a minimum of about 5 standard water bottles.
Whatever amount you decide (And it would be great if you challenge yourself to drink MORE than 48 ounces a day this week). I want you to also challenge yourself this week to measure every ounce. Hopefully most of you are already doing this but as part of our bonus challenge let's avoid any laziness of guessing this glass or that cup was a certain number of ounces. We will actually measure how much is in the drinking glasses, cups or water bottles we use to insure we are getting sufficient water each day. And don’t forget that if your water bottle is half full of ice and you don’t eat the ice (which by the way my dentist husband would advise you DON’T eat the ice) then you have to figure that in when counting how many ounces you drank.
Implementing this simple routine of drinking sufficient water is an excellent way to increase energy and relieve fatigue, helping you think, focus and concentrate better in the process. Water also removes by-products of fat and reduces eating intake. Simply drinking water can also stimulate your metabolism and flush out toxins through sweat and urination which reduces the risk of kidney stones and UTI’s. As far as your skin is concerned, drinking water keeps your skin moisturized and smooth, aiding with wrinkles in the process. Water also helps fight against flu, cancer and more, making it one of nature’s most important and impressive natural medications.
Water can help prevent headaches and in many cases when you take pain medication for a headache it is actually the water you wash it down with that brings relief not the medication. Cramps, and sprains are also aided by water. So this week- drink up!
It is also better for your health to sip water throughout your day rather than gulping it all down at once. You want to maintain a good level of hydration.
HOW CAN YOU GET MORE WATER IN?
1. One of my favorite health bloggers Snack Girl suggests adding a drop or two of key lime juice to your water. She recommends the Nellie and Joe’s brand
2. Another product she recommends is Nuun -- a hydration solution she says it is kind of expensive but it makes water easier to drink. I looked over the ingredients and for a product that offers some rehydration protection like Gatorade it is cheaper and the ingredients are much healthier. Snack girl says, “You pop a 10 calorie tablet into your water bottle and get a nice flavor along with electrolytes. I use this after exercise instead of drinking Gatorade. I also sometimes drink 1/2 coconut water plus 1/2 water as a rehydration drink.”
3. Buy some peppermint extract and a medicine dropper and make your own "Mint" water. Or add in some fresh mint leaves.These options add zero calories and a refreshing taste.
4. Try the book "Cool Waters" by Brian Preston-Campbell which includes 50 tasty water recipes see: How Do You Like it? Water Enhancer With or Without Chemicals.https://www.amazon.com/Cool-Waters-Refreshing-Homemade-Quenchers/dp/1558323848?SubscriptionId=0V2WKFJHBETEQ931R1R2&tag=snackgirl-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1558323848
3. Give flavored seltzer a chance (without artificial sweeteners)
4. Get a SodaStream and make your own seltzer. They even have flavor enhancers you can buy without artificial sweeteners - see Soda Stream USA.
5. Squeeze a lemon or lime in your water or buy a powdered form called True Lemon (there are other flavors too). There are no preservatives, artificial colors etc. see: True Lemon.
7. Try a fruit flavored herbal tea. There are some great caffeine-free flavors such as peach, blueberry, and apple. Brew some up and chill it.
8. Buy a water infuser and some fresh fruit. See the pitcher linked below. You add fruit to the center which is filled with holes and you can refill the water when needed.
9. Get a great water bottle. My favorite keeps the water cold for hours and is easy to drink out of quickly. Occasionally they have this one at Costco for half the price.
TO EARN YOUR WEEKLY BONUS POINTS I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CHOOSE AN AMOUNT OF WATER (48 OUNCES OR MORE) AND MEASURE EACH OUNCE THROUGHOUT THE DAY TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE GETTING A GENEROUS AMOUNT OF PURE PLAIN WATER.
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