Water is the driving force of all nature.
-leonardo da vinci
Today is the start to another work week. It’s a dreary day, and there’s a steady rainfall. Traffic is gonna be nuts (ATL traffic is crazy)! All this rain has me thinking about water. Not the good kind of water like the ocean and a warm sandy beach kind of water. I’m talking about the plain ol’ regular drinking water.
There are many health benefits to drinking water. Sure water keeps you hydrated, but did you know that water also:
- Aids in digestion: Water helps aid digestion and helps to flush waste from the body
- Helps improve your mood: Feeling refreshed after drinking water can help your state of mind. Fatigue is a sign of dehydration, and drinking water can help keep you energized
- Cuts down on calories: Choosing water over juice or any other sweetened beverage can cut down on unnecessary calories. A 20 ounce pop (aka soda) has about 240 calories. If you have one a day at the office, that’s 1,200 calories in 5 days just for your beverage choice! Reducing these types of calories can help with your calorie deficit and weight loss.
This was a pretty informative article that discusses the health benefits of water.
So if water is so great, how much do you need? I’m sure you’ve heard the recommendation to drink eight 8 ounce glasses of water per day. During my period(s) of increased activity, I go through 8 glasses easy. I’ve also heard you should drink half your body weight in ounces of water. So, a 150 pound woman should be drinking 75 ounces of water per day. Other factors such as hot weather, health conditions, and exercise intensity may cause a higher consumption of water too. WedMD has some good info here. I normally use the rule of thumb of what my pee looks like (TMI I know!). If it’s too yellow, I know I need to up my water intake. If it’s light yellow or clear, I’m good.
Water is supposed to be our preferred beverage of choice. Quite honestly the taste of water gets boring at times. Some years back, I treated myself to a massage and facial at a spa. And they served cucumber infused water. A few months later, I stayed at a hotel that served orange infused water. Both types of water were great alternatives to plain water and a nice awakening to my taste buds.
One of the most common ways to improve the taste of water is to add lemons to your water. Like drinking water, there are many benefits to drinking lemon water.
Lemon water, particularly warm lemon water, helps:
- Prevent wrinkles and acne; thus boosting your skin’s radiance
- Fight hunger cravings with the pectin fiber in the lemons
- Provide a great source of Vitamin C, which helps protect the body against immune system deficiencies. Other important nutrient benefits include potassium, which is important for heart and brain function.
If lemon water doesn’t trike your fancy, there are all types of combinations with fruits and herbs you can create to suit your taste preference. Here are a few recipe ideas to get you started.
My brother got me an infuser water bottle, and I use this periodically to change the taste of my water. Most days, I use a 32 ounce water bottle to take with me to work.
I try to drink at least 4 bottles during the work day. I also try to drink majority of my water before 7pm. Anything after that, I’m waking up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. And stumbling in the dark when I’m half sleep is not my idea of a fun nighttime activity!
I must admit, I still enjoy a glass of lemonade. And on rare occasions, I’ll have a pop aka soda. There’s really no health benefit to drinking pop. The added chemicals and sugar are no bueno – the extra calories and sugar just add up to extra pounds. If I have lemonade or pop, I usually try to flush it out of my system by drinking two times the amount of the lemonade or pop in ounces of water. I’m sure this doesn’t get it out of my system, but it helps me feel better about it! LOL!
So drink up, and enjoy your water! Enjoy the health benefits……..and the countless trips to the bathroom!
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