How To Drink More Water Every Day

There are a variety of reasons to drink plenty of water each day. Adequate water intake prevents dehydration, cleans out the body, and promotes healing processes. Substituting water for beverages high in calories can also help control weight. Follow the steps below to make sure you're getting enough of this most basic necessity.

Steps

1.Determine how much water you need. You've probably heard the "8 by 8" rule - drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day (2 qts, 1.8 l) - but the amount of water a person needs varies depending on his or her weight and activity level. Another way to determine your specific recommended water intake is to divide your weight (in pounds) by two. The resulting number is the number of ounces of water you need each day. For example, if you weigh 150 lbs., strive to drink 75 ounces of water daily. For those who use the Metric system, divide your weight (in kilograms) by 30 (ex. somebody weighing 70 kg is going to need 2.3 litres per day). Keep in mind that these recommended intake numbers are controversial and some experts believe they are a gross exaggeration. See "warnings" below for more information.

2.Measure your daily intake of water. Do this for a few days. If you find that you're drinking less than the recommended quantity, try some of the following tips.

3.Carry water with you everywhere you go in a bottle or other container. Before long, you'll find yourself reaching for it without a second thought.

4.Try wearing a digital watch that beeps at the beginning of each hour. Use that as a reminder to pour yourself a glass of water. Vow to drink that water before the next beep. If you drink only one small (6 ounce or 180 ml) cup per hour, you'll have consumed 48 ounces (1.4 l) by the end of an 8-hour workday.

6.Get a water purification system. Purified water tastes very good and may help make drinking water more appealing to you. Be aware, though, that as you grow accustomed to purified water, you may find that tap water leaves a bad taste in your mouth, even though it may be better for your teeth.[1]

7.Add lemons or limes to your water, it makes it taste better and makes you want to drink more of it. Be careful not to make it too sour, just a splash of sourness should do the trick. Some mint leaves can be added to a pitcher of water which should be allowed to sit overnight. These are cheap alternatives to the bottled flavored water.

8.Eat water rich foods, such as fruits like watermelon, which is 92 % water by weight. Blend up some seedless fresh watermelon flesh with some ice and place a few sprigs of mint (optional) - one of the most refreshing drinks, especially for the summertime. Cranberry juice is also another option, and has a bitter taste. Patients suffering from urinary infection caused by insufficient intake of water should drink cranberry juice and eat watermelon if not plain water everyday. A tomato is 95% water. An egg is about 74% water. A piece of lean meat is about 70% water.

9.Keep water cold, it tastes better. Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator at home. Add ice or freeze water in a sports bottle before taking it with you, it will eventually melt and be cold.

Tips

• Except in very rare cases, it is not necessary to buy expensive bottled water. Companies that sell water have a financial interest in convincing you that tap water is undesirable. Most studies done today of water sources in the US say that the tap water is just as clean and healthy as bottled water (which often is tap water). The only time bottled water is necessary is when in a developing or third world country.
• Instead of that cola, try a glass of water. It may not be as tasty, but it's a lot better for you than drinking almost ten teaspoons (50 ml) of white sugar. It's also considerably cheaper, especially if you drink tap water.
• If you really can't stand the taste of your water, try adding a tiny bit of fruit juice or a squeeze of lemon or lime - just enough to slightly change the taste. Refrigerating your water may also help make it more palatable.
• Drinking a full glass of water first thing in the morning helps wake the body up. So kick-start your day with water!
• Drinking water helps you control hunger. Drink a large glass of ice water 20 minutes before meals. The cold causes your stomach to shrink somewhat, which will make you feel full more rapidly.
• Whether drinking tap or bottled water, do some research on the source. In some places, such as Philadelphia, the tap water actually contains the same electrolytes that are in Gatorade. On the other hand it's also possible that your bottled water may be from a different source than its name suggests. If the bottle says 'Municipal Water Supply' or something to that effect, then the company has simply bottled tap water, and you're probably wasting your money.
• If you find out you have lead plumbing, and water is abundant in your area, let the water run for about thirty seconds before filling your glass. This can reduce the amount of lead - and the bad taste that accompanies it - in the water you drink. If you live in an area with a shortage of water, however, this is probably not a good option. But you should probably just buy a refillable jug from the local grocery store and refill it with purified, lead-free water so you don't waste water or get lead poisoning.
• Every time you walk past a water fountain, take a sip or two.
• Gradually increase your daily intake of water by starting with, perhaps, half your target amount. Put that much water in a large bottle in the fridge and aim to have it finished by the end of the day. Increase the amount every day until you're drinking the amount you've decided to drink.
• Vow to drink only water for a month. Once your body becomes accustomed to it, it will be hard not to drink enough water. Also, by the end of the month water starts to taste delicious!
• Try putting hair ties or rubber bands on your right hand to represent the glasses of water you need. When you drink one of the glasses, switch one to your left hand. Your goal is to get all of them on your left hand before the day is up.
• If you don't like the taste of water try hot water. It's a different taste and it feels good on your throat!
• Try drinking cold water out of a glass instead of a plastic or paper cup. The glass will retain the cold better than other materials and will keep your water crisp and fresh-tasting longer.
• Try getting a really cool water bottle that you enjoy having around, it makes drinking water more fun!
• Heap no-salt hot sauce or hot peppers (both of which have their own health benefits) on your food. The resulting pleasant but burning sensation in your mouth will make you gulp down glass after glass of water.
• Eat ice -- it's water and it tastes really good! Just don't chew it; that will ruin your teeth.
• Try setting a glass of water near where you are, for example if you're sitting at a computer for a long period of time. Sometimes, you will automatically drink without realizing it. Your mind knows when you're thirsty, even if you don't.
• If you don't want to put anything fruity in your water, try adding a Splenda to your plain water. It gives it a bit of a sweet taste and makes it easier to drink if you don't like the taste of water.Don't add too much sugar to your water. Otherwise you'll be no better than if you drank a coke.
• Take a hot bath and keep a few bottles of water on the shelf of the bathtub. The heat will make you thirsty and the water will taste great.
• Don't like the taste of water? Use a straw. You won't taste the water as much, because it will skip part of your tongue.
• If you like the bubbly aspect of soda and want to get your daily water needs, try drinking seltzer/club soda/carbonated soda. Seltzer also comes in lots of different flavors too.
• If your urine is dark yellow you may not be drinking enough water.
• Vitamin water is healthy for your body, but does have sugar. Do not drink too much. One small bottle a day will do fine to get your healthy vitamin dose.

Warnings

• Increasing your water intake may cause you to have to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. To avoid this, you may want to stop drinking water a few hours before bedtime--or make sure you visit the toilet before bed!
• While adequate water is essential to health, it is possible to drink too much water or any other beverage, and there has been considerable scientific debate surrounding how much water a person really needs per day. According to Snopes - http://www.snopes.com/medical/myths/8glasses.asp - the Los Angeles Times has reported that "Kidney specialists do agree on one thing, however: that the 8-by-8 (2 L) rule is a gross overestimate of any required minimum. To replace daily losses of water, an average-sized adult with healthy kidneys sitting in a temperate climate needs no more than one liter of fluid...the equivalent of about four 8-ounce (250 ml) glasses. According to most estimates, that's roughly the amount of water most Americans get in solid food. In short, though doctors don't recommend it, many of us could cover our bare-minimum daily water needs without drinking anything during the day."
• People with some heart conditions, high blood pressure or swelling of the lower legs (edema) need to avoid excess water. If you have a history of kidney problems, especially if you have had a transplant, consult your doctor before increasing your fluid intakes.
• You shouldn't drink too much water while eating as it dilutes your stomach acid and can cause digestion problems.
• If you live in a place with a lot of heat (e.g., the desert), you will have to drink extra water.
• It is possible to "overdose" on water. Water intoxication occurs when the electrolytes in the body are so diluted that they have trouble keeping the balance of water even inside and outside of individual cells. What that means is that drinking too much water (while not getting enough electrolytes) can cause your cells to burst. If you plan on doing heavy prolonged exercise, be sure to alternate sports drinks with regular water to keep your electrolytes in balance.
• Crystal Lite, Gatorade and other electrolyte drinks contain acetic acid which can increase rates of tooth decay. There is no real reason to drink electrolyte drinks unless you are heavily exercising (see above).
• Be aware that some elderly individuals with difficulty walking may avoid drinking adequate amounts of water, as they have difficulty transferring/walking to the bathroom. In such cases, a bedside commode may be useful. If you are caring for such an individual, encourage them to drink the necessary amount of water and reassure him/her that you can help them with the transfer to the commode.
• It is OK to drink bottled water, but be aware that most bottles that say that the stuff is "natural" spring water is just a scam. Most of the time it is just tap water with a fancy name and, in some cases, an outraegeously high price.