Inside Scoop: Here are our favourite simple tips to drink more water even if you don’t like the taste.

Sometimes the simplest habits can be the ones that make the biggest difference to our health.

Did you know that the average human body is estimated to be about 60-70 percent water? And think of all the places where we lose water:

• Perspiration
• Urination
• Bowel movements
• Even through breathing

No wonder why replacing it is crucial! It is needed for all your organs and bodily functions, especially digestion.

A lot of people don’t realize just how important hydration is for their metabolism. Some negative effects that being dehydrated has on your metabolism:

• Metabolism slows thus calorie burning slows.
• Energy generation is compromised (you’ll feel tired and weak).
• You might also feel dizzy and have headaches.
• Constipation kicks in and you are unable to excrete all the accumulated waste and toxins, which makes you feel bloated and tired.

How much water do you need?

Thirst is not the best indication of your hydration status because by the time thirst kicks in, your body is already experiencing a water loss.

Recommendations do vary on the quantity of water we need, but generally…

drinking 1/2 your body weight in water per day is the ideal (pounds to ounces)- more if you live in a hot climate, are exercising or you’re at the beach for example.

So, if you weigh 160 pounds, aim for approximately 80 ounces (2.2 liters) of water per day. If you don’t drink much water, you can start gradually and aim for 1/2 that amount to start with and increase as you can.

If you have a hard time remembering to drink water remember this: start your day off (before anything else) with a large glass of warm water with lemon. This rehydrates your body and brain after your night’s fast, and it provides your body with a mild cleanse- it also kick starts your metabolism.  Remember to continue to drink water regularly throughout the day.

One of the most common reasons that we hear for not drinking enough water is the taste, so here are our best tips to drink more water even if you don’t like the taste.

5 Delicious Tips to Drink More Water:

1) Consider adding some real fruit to your water. Limes, lemons, berries and grapefruit are all amazing additions. You can either put lemon or lime slices in your water or squeeze some juice in your glass. It’s refreshing and deeeelish!

Here are our favourite combos:

We’ll keep it simple, because you can make any combination for naturally supporting detox, digestion and boosting your metabolism.

Simply fill a large pitcher or other water safe container with fresh water. Add:

• Fresh fruits (cut the fruit into paper-thin slices or small chunks)
• Mint or basil for extra natural flavoring
• Stevia or pure raw honey, maple syrup (optional) to add sweetness

Refrigerate your water mix for 4-6 hours, and serve over ice. You’ll feel like you’re at a spa!

Green Tea, Mint & Lime – wonderful to aid in boosting your metabolism and assist with digestion, combating headaches and congestion; also, a natural breath freshener.

Strawberry & Kiwi – promotes cardiovascular health, immune system protection, blood sugar regulation, and aids digestion.

Cucumber, Lime & Lemon – supports water weight management, reduces bloating, assists with hydration and appetite control, and aids digestion.

Lemon, Lime & Orange – promotes proper digestion, adds vitamin C, and supports immune defence; enjoy this one at room temperature.

2) Eat veggies and fruits that have high water content. These include cucumbers, celery, tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, watermelon & oranges.

3) Eat soups and drink smoothies as they usually have high water content as well. Find some yummy recipes here.

4) Drink herbal teas such as: peppermint, lavender, chamomile, nettle, dandelion, green rooibos, and ginger. Here are some of our favourite teas to aid digestion.

5) Drink less coffee and caffeine as they are diuretics and contribute to water loss!

A note on pop, juice and flavour enhanced waters:

We all know that pop isn’t the smartest choice to staying hydrated. Not only does it do the opposite of hydrate, it is filled with either sugar or artificial sweeteners. The same goes for enhanced water. Artificial sweeteners have been shown to have similar effect on your blood sugar as regular sugar. The sweet taste tricks your body into thinking you are consuming sugar and can contribute to insulin resistance. Juice isn’t much better, even fresh pressed. Juice is created when the fiber is stripped away from fruits or vegetables leaving you with some nutrients and all the simple sugars that are directly absorbed in your blood stream, because there is no fiber to slow them down. This can leave your blood sugar imbalanced causing you to reach for more sugar later in the day.

What tips to drink more water are you going to try out today? Let us know below.