You probably aren’t getting enough water if you “hate the way water tastes”.
Some of my patients struggle with pain and tenderness in their muscles caused by poor hydration. Simple changes to drinking habits get nice results, fast. As a bonus, being hydrated make skin look better and digestion is improved! Yet, there are always some who resist drinking enough water.
8 cups of water every day?
You’ve heard that number, we all have. Do you ever wonder if that is too much or not enough? Here’s my formula for getting enough hydration:
- Take your body weight in pounds, divide that in half, and drink that amount in ounces of water.
- Ex: 150lbs / 2 = 75 ounces of water per day.
- If you’re drinking less than 4 cups of water right now, try adding one cup at a time over several weeks.
- Add more water for a very hot day, for exercise, or for medications that dehydrate you.
Water or herbal tea vs. coffee, black tea or alcohol.
You’ll want to add another 8oz for every caffeinated drink or unit of alcohol you consume. Check the ingredients list on any herbal teas you have for “natural flavorings” as this is usally MSG. A little is OK for most people, but too much in one day can give a wicked headache.
Still not convinced that water is for you?
Try leaving mint, cucumber, lemon, or lime in a pitcher of water overnight for a nice subtle flavor. Strawberries or raspberries will turn your water a light pink, and create a pleasant flavor almost right away. Another cure for the blegh taste of tap water is a Pur or Britta water filter. A faucet mounted one or a pitcher based one can make even the funkiest water taste pleasant.
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Great information. You can often spot someone who doesn’t drink enough water just by how tired they always are. Water is a simple fix to fatigue and other common problems.
Excellent point about fatigue, Verria. The difference between not quite enough water and being well hydrated isn’t much, but the energy boost is amazing.
I could never understand the people who don’t like the way water tastes! Good tips. I like my water “straight” no ice, carbonation or flavors. I keep several glasses on my desk – I work from home – and hydrate all day long. This is a habit that will die hard for me because I used to run 60 miles a week and needed the water. Drinking water also quenches that afternoon tendency for some people to snack on sugary foods. Next best liquid for me – plan green tea, cold, no ice!
Great reminder about how getting enough water can keep us on track with snacking habits. Thanks Laurie.
We have a reverse osmosis and a well and our water tastes fantastic..and I STILL don’t drink it..i just never get thirsty. i try to remind myself to drink and I do ok for a few days but then i slip back to not drinking any again. For me it is a constant battle to remember to get a drink..i don’t drink sodas or juice. I usually drink 2 coffees and 1 tea each day. that is my total liquid intake.
Thanks for reminding me though how important water is. I will try to make more of an effort as I do understand my body needs it.
Julie Labes,…The Fierce over 50 feels much younger point and click junkie loves to travel does not use a jogging stroller and before you ask this is NOT my granddaughter..Woman
Hi Julie,
I was like you for years, and struggled with afternoon headaches until I found the “favorite cup” method. I have a cute blue mug from IKEA that lives on my desk at work. If I finish two cute mugs of water before lunch, then two cute mugs of water before leaving for the day, I can get my water in without relying on thirst cues.
Good luck!
I am a bit iced tea drinker. I don’t add any sweetener. I thought I was being pretty healthy, but I think I need to add more water into my diet. For every one glass of tea, I need to add some water. I’m just a bit concerned that I’ll have to move my office closer to the bathroom! Oh, I do like the taste of water.
Molly, the good news is we do get some water from fruits & veggies, so all hope is not lost. Black tea can be dehydrating, but green tea and white tea aren’t so much. I find white tea with a squeeze of lime to be a pretty good substitute for my “southern iced tea” cravings.
I agree that when you learn to drink enough water, you begin to like it and want it. Both my husband and I worked to increase our fluid intake (successfully–at least much of the time!) I make sure to carry refillable bottles everywhere so if the thought occurs to me to drink some water I have some available. And of course I drink a lot during exercise.
Judy Stone-Goldman
The Reflective Writer
http://www.thereflectivewriter.com/blog/
“My cat owns me, my clutter stymies me, my writing frees me.
Word maven loves–and learns from–ordinary life.”
Judy, I want your secret to getting your husband on board! Or was it he that convinced you? Either way, good for both of you.
I was one of those that didn’t like to drink water. But that has changed and I have a jug of water at my desk to replenish my glass. I think I still need to drink more so I will use your suggestion to add a cup over several weeks. I also have become addicted to rooiboos teas flavored with coconut or chocolate or mango or anything luscious. No sugar. no caffeine. Maybe I need to make some cold rooiboos and I’ll drink more with that. Good information on what it does for the body.
Julieanne, do you have a particular brand of Rooibos that you love? I’ve tried Trader Joe’s Rooibos Chai, but would like to try more.
I start my day with two cups of coffee and then it’s water from then on. I always have a cup of water nearby. I used to also drink diet coke in the afternoon and finally realized that my daily afternoon headache was from the diet coke and probably the lack of water too. Now, I even get a stomachache when I drink diet coke and for sure a headache. The weird thing is, I still crave diet coke even though it makes me feel bad. I wonder why?
Sorry to hear you’ve got stomach ache from diet coke, but it doesn’t surprise me. Food or liquid cravings are really common, and often are about what we can’t digest/ absorb well, rather than just a signal to get more of something. Depending upon how long ago you quit the soda, your cravings could be lingering “caffeine in the afternoon” withdrawal (can be up to 2 months for some women), or something more subtle. If the cravings continue, and are uncomfortably strong, get a nutritionist’s opinion.
I’ve had the importance of drinking enough water pounded into me beginning over 20 years ago, especially during my pregnancy when water was about all I was drinking every day. Before that I used to drink sodas every day, but was blessed to have a boss that had a background in chemistry and convinced me that drinking sodas, especially diet sodas, was not healthy for me. Once I stopped doing that and began to drink water more often, it became such a habit that water is now about the only thing I drink other than maybe a cup of coffee or tea every once in awhile and my glass of wine with dinner! I learned while I was in Italy visiting my daughter that you should drink a glass of water with each glass of wine, and I see the wisdom in that after reading your post here! My mom is terrible about drinking water and says she doesn’t like the taste, so I am going to share your blog with her and see if it will give her some ideas!
Thanks for sharing the post, Donna. Please share your Mom’s results drinking more water. Perhaps the wisdom of those fun-loving Italians can be a lesson to all of us.
Thanks for the reminder. I love water, especially if it has a squeeze of lemon or lime. We are made of water and salt, and I find water and salt cures our aliments (allergies, sore throat, inflamed gums, etc.) I love salt water dipping pools, too. (Just dreaming of my forthcoming vacation in Thailand!)
Thanks for your wisdom and recommendations.
You are so right about salt’s curative effects, Alicia. For sore throats I’ve given up all “throat soothing” medicines and herbs in favor of gargling with salt water. Have a great time in Thailand!
We drink lots of water here….however, I have fallen off lately, not because of taste but because of all the supplements and things I’ve been taking…I thought all the water was affecting my stomach…and when I stopped/lowered the amount I felt better. Now that it is hot I am drinking more, and I will take your advice and add one more cup a day…my kids drink it all day long…its funny we were the only people sending our kids to preschool with water….all the other kids had juice boxes…BUT my kids are used to it..so it wasn’t an issue for them (just the teachers thought it was odd). Thanks for the tips of adding things to the water…I do NOT like the tap water here…however I LOVE it in NY…not sure what that is about, so when I go there…I drink lots!!! Wish that were the case here at home.
Rita Brennan Freay
@Rita4kids
ritabrennanfreay.com
Rita, you aren’t the only one to notice the difference between different municipal tap waters. I love SF’s water, but really struggle with SJ’s. Currently I live in Santa Clara, and thanks to a really good filter am able to enjoy tap water. I’m convinced it makes my tea taste better too.
Good luck adding more water, and please share if you find any other ways to add flavor.
I’m going to recommend The Big Pitcher, by http://www.oxygenorchard.com if you don’t like the taste of water, the oxygen helps improve the taste of most waters, and also makes the water alkaline, which is what many health experts recommend drinking if you can get it.
The Big Pitcher is available at this website, http://www.mymiraclejourney.com and by calling Barbara Hyman, (323) 684-6157. I have mine, and wouldn’t want to be without it!
I’m all about water! Amen to water! I’m a water connoisseur. LOL! I’ve tried all waters, filtered, from the bottle, kangen, other systems…you name it. LOL! So far my favorite is i-H2O Activation System by Gia Wellness. I get eczema when I stress and if I just spray it on my skin it starts to heal. That’s been my experience. Water is the bomb! I do like cucumber in my water…very refreshing
xoxo
Alara K. Castell
Your Sassy Spiritual Guide
Preaching to the choir here…I don’t get how people don’t like the “taste” of water. I know some tap water tastes weird, but there are so many ways to get better tasting water. I start each and every day with a “big-ass” glass of water (24 oz) Can’t do anything until I’ve done that. I have some chocolate mint that I add to water if I want a change of pace…
I’ve spoken to longevity experts and old people who call this drinking a “big ass” glass of water in the morning the key. It really flushes the system, which is doing it’s best “detoxifying” during the night while you sleep/rest.
xxoo
Barb
I only drink water and this was a good reminder that i need to drink more! I love the “spa water” tricks with fruit or cucumber and haven’t done that in a while…such simple ways we can treat ourselves well and important to remember…thanks!
Brandy
Isn’t there a saying – if you are hungry, drink water, if you are tired, drink water – it cures all. I love water! I had slacked off on with how much I was drinking as I got busy in my business but I now have a lovely Camelback 24 oz bottle that I keep on my desk and take everywhere with me and I keep filling it – I drink about 4 of those a day so am over my target – nice to know.
Louise Edington
Fabulous and fearless
http://louiseedington.com
One of my goals is to drink 64 oz of water per day. I don’t always make it, but I have a 22 oz jar, and if I drink 3 of these per day, I know I’ve reached my goal.
Based upon this article, though, I guess I should be drinking more, given, I weigh more than 138 right now, though, I’m on a healthy weight loss program, and I’m attending my second Kidney Cleanse and Qigong Empowerment in August in Sedona area. There, we drink yummy delicious spring water, that they get right from the area. I’ve heard spring water is desirable. Here at home in L.A., we make sure we get super filtered alkaline water at a local water store. It’s 30 cents per gallon, and we tote it ourselves, but, it’s our favorite water. And it’s alkaline. The Koreans have long been big believers in drinking it. Oxygenating the water also makes it alkaline, and I use an oxygen water pitcher made by Oxygen Orchard. Great, informative article!
I’ve been sick this week and taking meds … trying really hard to drink more water to flush all the YUCK out of my system. Between your post and a few of the comments I now have more knowledge to convince myself to reach for the britta pitcher instead of an alternative;)
Yvonne Hall
http://www.yvonneelmhall.wordpress.com
Hi Dorothy,
Thanks for all this good advice. Too often I rely on “thirst” to get me drinking water, and I realize I ought be more systematic and pro-active. Is it true that the older we get, the more inactive our “thirst meter” gets? Another question, following up on Donna’s comment: Do you recommend we drink a glass of wine for every glass of water?
Robbie