Although it may be common knowledge that the adult human body is composed of up to 70 percent water, what may not be commonly known is that a huge amount of water is lost through metabolism, exercise, temperature regulation, waste transportation and digestion. Needless to say, it is essential for your health to stay hydrated.
Previously we’ve introduced ideas on how to encourage children to drink water, but what about ourselves? If you’re the kind of person who Pavlov Dog (excuse the very bad pun) salivates at liquid only is it’s fizzy, packed full of sugar or is a pretty colour, how do you ‘trick’ yourself into drinking the good ol’ H2O?
Add visual interest to your beverage. Forcing yourself to drink eight, tepid glasses of water out of a boring plastic cup will feel like drudge central. Instead, purchase a colourful sports bottle or a trendy travel mug. Carry your fashionable cup with you and take small sips throughout the day. Don’t try and drink it all at once.
Chill slices of orange and lemon or whole grapes, strawberries and raspberries. Or, be adventurous and mix sliced fruit or mint with slices of cucumber. Fill a clear glass part way full with chilled fruit and top up with water from your water dispenser or Instant Tap. Not only will your water look interesting, but also the subtle flavours of the fruit, aromatics or cucumber will make for a tasty hydration hack.
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Surprisingly, about 20 percent of your daily water consumption comes from food. Some, such as cucumber, watermelon and tomato are nearly 90 percent water by weight. Cut up fruit and vegetable slices and carry them in a sealed container in your bag/backpack for a snack during the day.
Drink beverages other than water. Water is calorie free, but other drinks are good for you too. Depending on your dietary requirements, drinking milk or vegetable juice can be nutritious. Tea and coffee count toward your daily water consumption, but exercise moderation as caffeine makes the body excrete water. Too much caffeine may also make you jittery. Avoid sugary juices and soda. Limit alcohol consumption as alcohol is a diuretic and may dehydrate you.
Teach yourself good habits. There have been some rather unsettling reports about the lethargy produced from computer and office bound work. Combat these by leaving your workspace and perambulating over to the water cooler area. While it might not be appreciated if you pretend that you’re stalking prey at a watering hole in the Serengeti, a quick confab with your co-workers while you replenish your water bottle will give your brain and body a break.
Stake your water bottle claim. Fun it up in your workplace by ensuring the water glass or water bottle you replenish at the water cooler is distinctive and ‘you’ branded and unlikely to be claimed by a magpie type colleague. Who knows, you could start a trend!
