Wrote by Stephanie Oswald Certified Health Coach (IIN, graduated 2014) and an Registered Holistic Nutritionist.
Staying properly hydrated is so important to our overall health. Being hydrated helps us with maintaining optimal fluid levels, healthy elimination, lymphatic drainage, energy levels and beyond. Drinking water throughout the day doesn’t always mean you are hydrated. If you feel thirsty, have a dry mouth, get headaches have low energy or dark urine chances are you are already dehydrated. When exercising intensively, you may need more minerals and sodium (electrolytes) to restore fluids lost through sweating. Electrolytes can help pull water into the cell, I like to add a tsp of dissolved pink Himalayan salt to my water for electrolytes.
So how much water do we actually need in a day? This really depends on your lifestyle and dietary habits. A good baseline is to aim for 8, 8oz glasses of water throughout the day; if you exercise and sweat a lot, drink caffeinated beverages, diuretics, alcohol or smoke cigarettes your needs will increase as they can be dehydrating. I recommend adding 1 additional cup of water to your daily intake per caffeinated or alcoholic drink consumed. One tip I really love for encouraging increased water intake is to buy a water bottle you really like and be sure to carry it everywhere with you. This way you can keep track of your intake and remind yourself to drink water regularly.
One of the best ways I have found to ensure I keep myself hydrated is to start my day with a nice big glass of water first thing in the morning. I will add my electrolytes (dissolved sea salt), chlorophyll or some fresh lemon slices to boost hydration and detoxification. I usually aim for a liter of water within the first hour of waking, I really feel the difference in my energy and even elimination when I am ensuing I start the day this way.
Some people don’t enjoy the plain taste of water and need some flavor to motivate them to drink up. I love adding Land Art Liquid Mint Chlorophyll or 1 tbsp. Land Art Cranberry concentrate mixed with 1 tbsp. Land Art Pomegranate Flavored Aloe Vera juice to a liter of water. They taste delicious and help me consume enough water throughout the day. Some other delicious ways to enjoy water include adding fruit (like berries), herbs (like mint), citrus (like lemons and limes) and/or cucumber to a big bottle of water and let it sit and infuse. This way you get flavor without any added sugar or artificial sweeteners. One of my favorite combos is lime, cucumber and mint steeped overnight in a large jar of water, it is super refreshing.
Staying hydrated helps keep our skin plump and moisturized, ward off headaches lubricate our joints, move food through the digestive tract, keep the body clean and our cardiovascular system healthy. So remember to drink enough water every day to look and feel your best!
