If you find yourself reaching for tea, coffee, pop, juice – basically anything – over water this blog’s for you.
Water – you love it, until you have to drink it.
We all know there are many benefits to drinking water, and that we are supposed to have 6-8 glasses a day. But that seems like a lot. And there are plenty of excuses to reach for something different, likely something caffeinated.
I know this struggle first hand. But have made the commitment (thanks to a New Year’s resolution) to drink more water. Now, a few months in, all those “benefits” I’ve known but ignored, are actually coming true. And it feels fantastic!
Here’s what has happened.
Increased energy. The first thing I noticed when I started drinking more water was that my energy levels increased. Looking into this, I learned that fatigue is often the first sign of dehydration because the body isn’t working efficiently. With less water in the body, there is a drop in blood volume, and this makes the rest of your body work harder, so you feel tired.
Improved skin. My skin is less dry now and I don’t need as much moisturizer as before. My pores are smaller, and there is definitely a healthier look to my skin. There is truth to the claims that drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day improves the colour and texture of skin. This is because water aids the building of new skin cells.
“If you are thirsty, you’re already dehydrated,” say experts everywhere.
Better sleep. For the longest time I needed to drink water throughout the night (probably because I was so dehydrated from the day). Now, I hardly need the glass of water sitting beside my bed. And I am sleeping better because I don’t wake up throughout the night feeling parched.
Consume fewer calories. Often you think you are hungry when you’re actually thirsty. By drinking plenty of water throughout the day, I found myself snacking less because the water was filling me up. Not to mention the fact that since I was drinking more water, I was consuming fewer sugary beverages.
Now I crave it. It didn’t take long for water to become my beverage of choice. I crave the crisp coldness, the refreshing taste and how great it feels to know I am making a healthier choice. And now, I even drink more than the recommended 6-8 glasses a day… by choice!
These are the most obvious changes I have noticed in my quest to consume more water, but there are many others as well. Being well-hydrated aids digestion, helps flush out toxins from the body, aids in weight loss, and can improve your mood. Not to mention the obvious… its natural!
If you aren’t one for drinking much water, here are a few tips to get going:
Bring a water bottle with you wherever you go
Keep track of your daily intake either through the size of your water bottle and how many refills, or with an app
Eat raw fruits and veggies as they are dense in water as well – every little bit helps!
