If you’re like some of us here at Valley, drinking the recommended 8 glasses of water a day can get pretty difficult. Some of us prefer juice or soda or maybe even tea. The problem with that is the more you choose those things over a bottle of water, the less hydrated you’ll be. For everyone out there who struggles with staying hydrated, Valley is here to help. We teamed up with Sarah Hostetter, Nutritional Sciences Major and member of the Women’s Health and Fitness Club, to come up with some tips to help you out when water leaves you hung out to dry.
Increase Water Intake through Food
A lot of people don’t know this, but you can actually hydrate yourself through the types of food you eat. Stick to fruits that have a high water content like strawberries, watermelons, cantaloupes, oranges, and pineapples. If you’re not a fruit person vegetables with a high water content include cucumbers, lettuce, celery, broccoli, and tomatoes. Hostetter advises this option because not only are these fruits and vegetables are good for you, they can be taken on the go.
H2O Alternatives
If you’re someone who would rather drink anything other then a plain glass of water, some more flavorful alternatives might be better suited for you. Low fat or skim milk, vegetable juice, or 100% fruit juice are all great options. While Hostetter mentions that a huge benefit of water is that it only has zero-calories, these alternatives work just as well. Even coffee can increase your water intake but keep in mind not to go overboard with the caffeine.
Spruce It Up
If you really want to commit yourself to the challenge of drinking eight glasses of water a day, there are things you can add to plain water that makes it easier to drink.
“Adding chopped up fruits or vegetables is a great way to gain the nutrients ,vitamins, and minerals you need throughout the day” says Hostetter.
There are also a ton of combinations you can try to be creative with increasing water intake: making ice cubes out of frozen oranges, strawberries or grapes; cut up slices of cucumber or lime; for a refreshing drink add basil or mint. Most people dislike water because they crave the carbonated taste of soda; adding seltzer water and a few pieces of fruit to your H2O can help you et past this.
With these tips there’s no reason to not stay hydrated throughout the day. Keeping up with your daily water intake can be hard, but hopefully Valley has given you some brand new ideas to leading a healthier life!
