This is a follow-up post to Daniela’s question. Here, I’ll discuss some surprising ways that you can increase your water intake so that you get your recommended daily intake.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables. Tomatoes are 97% water! And oranges? 87%. Fruits and vegetables are largely composed of water, and the kinds of foods that promote a dream body, so eating more of them is a win-win for you. Snack on those strawberries (92% water) and put some avocado (81% water) slices in your sandwich. To see some charts listing water content of fruits and veggies, see the Fruit Pages and the University of Kentucky’s Chart.
- Naturally improve the taste of your water. I grew up on sweetened tea. When I switched to plain water, I was less than enthused about the bland taste. You can experiment with different fruits or vegetables to add a unique flavor to your water. Lemon slices are the traditional flavor enhancing method, but who says you have to be traditional? I have also enjoyed my water with strawberry slices. The picture above shows water with cucumber slices. Get creative with your water, and you will find that it can be just as delicious as anything else.
- Carry your water with you. This one may not be a surprise. Carrying your water with you makes you much more likely to drink it. But the container you carry it in can very well be part of the problem. Is is easy to carry? Is it leak free? Does it fit comfortably in your hand and allow you to properly squeeze the water out of it as you quench your thirst? Not all water bottles are created equal. Some will get the job done; others will not function as well. Invest in a good water bottle, and watch your daily water intake rise.
- Drink purified water for less. Although some people don’t mind it, I avoid tap water if at all possible. I just don’t care for the taste. Purified water has had chemicals removed from it, so in my opinion, it just tastes better. But the cost of individual bottles of purified water can quickly add up. I purchase my purified water by the 5-gallon size. To get the best price, I went through my phone book yellow pages under the heading “Water Bottled” and started calling the companies for pricing and delivery information.
When I asked a big-name company in town if their water was purified, I was surprised to learn that it was not. Ask water bottle companies how they filter their water – what process they use and what the benefits are of using this process. After conducting my own research, I found a local company that would deliver five-gallon jugs of clean and tested water to my home for just $5 a jug (and that includes the delivery!).
You can keep these jugs at your home and/or office. To dispense your water, you can purchase a fancy water cooler and dispenser like these here
- Change your water attitude. If you consider drinking water to be a dreaded chore, your relationship with water is not going to last long. To be successful, however, your attitude needs to change to that of a long-term commitment to water. Consider for a moment that you are incredibly blessed to have access to clean drinking water. Water Missions International has heart-breaking statistics to share. 5,500 people die every day from water-borne illnesses and diseases. 4,000 of them are children. The crisis is real. Thousands of people around the world would give their lives – literally – to be able to have a drink of the water that you sometimes think negatively of. If you can keep this perspective in mind, I am willing to bet that you will start drinking more water. Water, after all, is life.
Recommended Reading:
Does Drinking Water Lead to More Bathroom Trips? – the question you’ve been dying to get an answer to! Find out why your body responds the way that it does to an increase in water intake.
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