The Nation’s Hydration
Drinking enough water is important for your health. Even mild forms of dehydration can affect our mood, our ability to maintain our body temperature, and increase our risk for constipation or kidney stones. Various factors affect how much water we need each day. People who exercise or are exposed to a warmer climate will typically need more water each day. A guideline of one gallon of water per day is often suggested as a daily target for most adults. Determining if you are meeting your fluid needs is relatively easy. If you notice your urine color is pale, and you typically have to urinate every few hours throughout the course of your daily routine, chances are you are properly hydrated. However, a recent CivicScience poll revealed that almost half of the surveyed population was only drinking about a third of a gallon each day. In addition to hydration, using water as a primary beverage can also help limit your consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and juices, which are known to increase the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Below are some tips to try if you struggle to drink enough water daily.
Mix in some produce
Use timeless options like lemons or limes, or get creative and try strawberries and basil or cucumber and mint.
Tie it into a routine
Drink a glass of water every time you brush your teeth, eat a meal, or after using the restroom.
Take it to go
Fill up a water bottle before you leave the house so you have water while running errands or on your commute to work. These water bottles also reduce the strain on our landfill, when compared to single-use bottles.
Add a re-usable straw
When you drink out of a straw you are more likely to down more ounces than if you were just sipping out of a glass.
Make it bubbly
Try switching to sparkling water for a different hydration experience. If you use flavored sparkling waters be sure to be mindful of added sugars or artificial sweeteners.
– Olivia Sellers, RDN, LDN
Want more?
Check out our previous edition of Food for Thought!
Did you know that fruits and vegetables have more than just vitamins and minerals? Learn more about the science behind why fruits and veggies are so good for you in our previous Food for Thought post below!
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