H2O Hacks: 5 Ways to Drink More Water When It’s a Struggle
Updated February 1, 2024.
Drinking water is essential for maintaining health and preventing dehydration, as the human body uses water for almost everything. Despite its numerous benefits, such as regulating body temperature, lubricating joints, keeping skin, hair, and nails healthy, reproducing cells, and flushing waste, many people wonder why they struggle to drink water. With a daily goal of about 125 ounces (3.7 liters) for men and 91 ounces (2.7 liters) for women, the bland and tasteless nature of water offers no instant gratification and is easily forgotten.
To help you live a healthier life, we'll cover the best ways to increase water intake and explain how to drink water correctly through 5 strategies.
5 Tips to Drink More Water
The best way to drink water is to have a plan or strategy that is easy to follow.
Here are 5 ways to drink more water:
- Set a daily goal
- Replace all your drinks with water
- Flavor your water
- Eat more water-based vegetables and fruits
- Build the habit into your daily routine
1. Set a Daily Goal
Setting a specific goal can help you increase your daily water intake and stay motivated. Identify obstacles, such as forgetfulness or disliking water's taste, and create a realistic target. If you currently do not drink much water, aim for 4 cups a day initially. Determine a reason to achieve your daily water goals, like the health benefits of water or improved digestion. Write down your goal and keep it in a visible location, such as at your desk or in a daily planner.
2. Replace all Your Drinks with Water
Replacing sweetened, caffeinated, and carbonated drinks with water can boost your health and reduce calorie intake. Sodas and sports drinks are full of added sugars detrimental to your health. These beverages can lead to dehydration, weight gain, sugar cravings, and lethargy. Drinking water, on the other hand, can speed up your metabolism, burn calories faster, regulate blood sugar levels, and keep sugar cravings at bay, promoting better overall health.
3. Flavor Your Water
This advice may sound all well and good, but how to drink more water when you don't like it?
If you don't like the taste of water, here are some healthy ways to flavor it. Most flavored drinks contain empty calories, sugar, or sugar substitutes. Using a fruit-infuser water bottle, add fruit slices to your water, such as cucumber and lime, or lemon, apples, and oranges. Alternatively, add fruits to your ice cube tray along with water, freeze, and use these fruit-flavored ice cubes in your water. This approach makes water even more refreshing and improves its taste.
» Want more excitement than plain water? Learn more about structured water
4. Eat Water-Based Vegetables and Fruits
Drinking enough water can be a struggle for most people. A simple way to increase water intake is to consume more water-rich fruits and vegetables:
- Watermelon - 92% water, contains antioxidants, high in potassium
- Cucumber - 96% water, low in calories, source of vitamins and fiber
- Zucchini - 95% water, rich in vitamin B6, good for regulating blood glucose
- Lettuce - 95% water, contains Vitamin C, folic acid, and potassium
- Cantaloupe - 89% water, contains potassium and fiber
5. Build the Habit Into Your Daily Routine
To start the habit of drinking water, link it to a common daily activity, like drinking a glass of water after every bathroom break, after waking up, or with every meal. Carry a water bottle with you to ensure access to water. Additionally, set reminders on your phone to avoid forgetting and prevent dehydration.
Make sure to drink more water if you exercise or are sick.
The Power of Structured Water
Structured water, which is purer and free from chemicals, hydrates and detoxifies your body better than ordinary tap or bottled water. Similar to uncontaminated natural water found in glaciers, structured water provides superior health benefits. To maximize your hydration efforts, consider making your own structured water at home using the Mayu Swirl Water Pitcher. With these five strategies and the incorporation of structured water, you'll be well on your way to conquering your hydration struggles and achieving better health.
