5 Ways to Increase Your Water Intake

How much water should you drink?

There is mixed information out there on what the optimal amount of water is, as it varies so much from person to person. I generally recommend you drink half your body weight in ounces, and more if you exercise or are out in hot weather. Those with kidney, liver or heart problems, should consult their doctor to find out what amount of water is right for them.

Add Natural Flavor

Adding a little flavor to your water can make it more appealing to drink! Experiment with slices of fresh lemon, orange, lime, watermelon, cucumber or cantaloup. Sprigs of herbs like mint, lemon balm and rosemary are also good options. Get wild and add a combination! You'll also get a bit of vitamins and minerals with this approach. Win, win.

Invest In a Water Bottle

Drinking from a reusable water bottle that you actually want to carry around is a little more fun than drinking from a cup or single use plastic bottle. It also makes it a bit easier to keep track of how many ounces you've had throughout the day.

Keep Track With an App

There's an app for everything-- even drinking water! Many of the apps will send you reminders throughout the day and even allow you to input how many ounces you've had to see if you are meeting your goals. You can also set recurring reminders on your phone through your own calendar if you don't want to use an app.

Make It Obvious 

Keep a full glass of water out in the most commonly visited space in your house/work and drink the whole glass every time you see it. Make a little garnish, add a fun reusable straw and put it in a fancy glass (water in a wine glass anyone?) so it catches your eye and looks inviting to drink! 

Get an Accountability Buddy

Everything is more fun with a friend! Encourage each other with little reminders and help each other stay on track.

If you find yourself always thirsty, having a dislike for water in general, or becoming bloated when you drink even just a little water, these are signs of an internal imbalance from a Chinese medicine perspective. Schedule with me today!