Four Solid Ways To Get Enough Water In Your Body
It’s a hot summer day and you’ve been outside for most of it. Whether it’s doing a bit of yard work or having some fun at an outdoor gathering, your mind and body have been busy, and getting in a couple glasses of water is the least of your concern.
Suddenly you feel funny, your heartrate is slightly elevated, you feel a bit dizzy and the beginning of a headache. What happened? One strong possibility would be a lack of proper hydration, aka dehydration.
The most effective way to stay properly hydrated is very simply to drink water. In other words, water helps our bodies function properly.
We know it’s important to stay hydrated, but just how much water do we need?
It is different for everyone.
Tom Brady may drink 2 gallons of water a day to reach his hydration goals, while many non-athletes are perfectly hydrated drinking a fourth of that amount.
Rather than lay out a complicated scientific formula to figure out how much water you need, an easy way to gauge your hydration level is to check your pee. If your urine is more yellow, drink more… a simpler method than using a long formula, but just as effective.
Getting a good amount of water in can be a challenge for many people. Here are a few tips and tricks to make hydration a bit easier.
Use a big water bottle :
Its easier to drink more water if you have more water around & available for you. Plus, it eliminates the need to get up every 45 minutes to fill your bottle.
Make it a challenge! :
While getting enough water in your body can be a challenge on its own, one motivation technique is to mark off levels on your water bottles and try to reach them at various points throughout the day.
Add some flavor :
Water is pretty boring on its own. There is nothing wrong with giving it a bit of excitement with some flavors. I really like: Mio, which has options to add in more vitamins, Crystal Light for their good flavors, or adding in a scoop of EAAs (Essential Amino Acids) to help recover from a workout.
Avoid dehydrating habits :
While its important to keep a steady intake of liquids, some forms can actually play a role in dehydrating you. Sugary drinks like some juices and sodas have the ability to decrease water absorption in the body. Alcohol is also notorious for causing a loss of water in the body, so if you are imbibing in some alcoholic beverages, a good rule to follow is drink 12 ounces of water for every beer, wine, or mixed drink.