8 Sneaky Ways To Drink More Water

From: Jan M.

Sent: May 9, 2012

To: undisclosed recipients

Subject: Fw: 8 Sneaky Ways To Drink More Water

By now you probably know that drinking your daily dose of H2O keeps your body running properly, your skin clear and may even help you lose weight.

But there still isn't a set-in-stone answer when it comes to the question of just how much water we need to drink each day. Some people will tell you to drink eight glasses, while others call that "nonsense." Others will tell you to divide your body weight in half and drink that number, in ounces, of water every day. And depending on the weather or your level of physical activity or whether or not you're pregnant, you might need even more than usual.

In 2004, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) established that healthy adult women need around 91 ounces of total water and healthy adult men need about 125 ounces every day. But "total" water counts the water in other beverages, as well as the liquid in hydrating, high-water-volume foods. About 80 percent of our daily water intake comes from beverages, and the remaining 20 percent comes from the foods we eat.


It's true that you don't want to overdo it when it comes to drinking water. It is possible to drink too much -- and it can be fatal -- but, with half of Americans drinking sugary drinks daily, we think there's still plenty of room for many of us to drink more water.

This week, the American Water Works Association is celebrating Drinking Water Week 2012, an annual nod to the importance of water in our daily lives that first began more than 30 years ago.

In honor of Drinking Water Week, we've rounded up some quick-and-easy ways to add more water to your daily routine.

1) Drink First Thing
"Place a glass of water by your bed and drink it first thing when you get up," suggests Keri Gans, M.S., R.D., a nutrition spokesperson and author of "The Small Changes Diet," in an email to The Huffington Post. Try drinking it before your usual coffee or tea.

2) Sip At Your Desk
Keep a reusable cup or bottle at your desk. When it's empty, go refill it. It's a great way to fit in more steps during the day, too! Neglecting the bottle? "Put a sticky note on your computer to remind you to drink up," says Gans. If that still doesn't work, try setting a reminder alarm on your phone or calendar.

3) Bring Water To Go
If you don't have a desk job, or even if you do, toss a water bottle in your bag to sip while you're out and about, says Gans.

4) Drink Before You Eat
When you sit down to a meal, have a glass or two of water before you start to eat. Not only can it serve as a reminder to drink more, but a 2010 study found that drinking two glasses before meals helped people lose five pounds more over 12 weeks than people who did not increase their water intake.

5) Dilute Your Juice
If you're the type of person who'd rather reach for a sweet sip than plain ol' water, you don't have to cut out juice cold turkey. Instead, Gans recommends filling 1/4 of your glass with 100 percent fruit juice, then topping it off with water or seltzer.

6) Skip The Soda
If you find yourself reaching for a soda or other sweet drink that isn't 100 percent fruit juice, use that craving as a reminder instead to grab a glass of H2O. And if you can't quit those bubbles? "Seltzer counts as water," .

7) Give Your Water Some Flavor
Still can't get over the bland taste? "Use fresh fruit or veggies to flavor your water," says Gans. Cucumber, lemon, lime and watermelon are tasty options, she says, and high in water themselves.

8) Track Your Intake
Just as keeping a food diary can help you key into what and when you're eating, tracking your water intake can similarly shine a light on where you could fit in more fluids. There's even an app for that!  http://www.huffingtonpost.com




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