Water plays an important role throughout the body, helping everything from your heart to your digestive system work properly. It can also help with weight management, since research has linked inadequate hydration with obesity and a higher body mass index (BMI). Although the amount of water you need varies from person to person, reaching your specific goal can be challenging. So if you need a little help, here are six sneaky ways to help you meet your water intake goals:
Add some flavor
If you're getting bored by plain water, add a little flavor to it. Orange, lemon or cucumber slices, watermelon chunks or sprigs of mint can all be used to give plain water a boost. Add some of these flavors to a cold pitcher of water you keep in the fridge.
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Use an app
There's an app for nearly everything, including tracking your water intake. Create daily goals and receive reminders on apps like Daily Water Free - Water Reminder and Calendar or iHydrate – Daily Water Tracker & Hydration Reminder. If you'd prefer to track your water intake as well as other nutritional and fitness-related goals with the same app, you can do it with MyFitnessPal.
Look for water-rich foods
In addition to drinking water, you can also eat water-laden foods. They're usually low-calorie, healthy foods that contain a good amount of vitamins, minerals and fiber, so you'll be getting these added benefits.
The following are some foods that have a high water content:
- Cucumber
- Zucchini
- Watermelon
- Oranges
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Bell Pepper
- Lettuce
Get into a routine
Start drinking water at specific times, such as when you get up in the morning, after brushing your teeth and/or before eating – which has the added benefit of making you less likely to overeat. By establishing specific times to drink, you'll soon be doing it without having to think about it.
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Buy a nice bottle water
Invest in a water bottle that you'll like to carry and have around. Look for one that has features that can help your water taste better or make it easier to track your intake, such as a filter, infuser or markings on the bottle that provide a measure of how much you're drinking.
Make it easily available
Carry a water bottle in the car, keep it at your desk when you're at work, and take it along to the gym or other location when you work out. If it's easily accessible, you'll be more likely to remember to drink it.
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