We tend to think of water as just something boring to drink.  And, let’s be real, it is.  But it’s also absolutely vital for us to stay alive.

We know it’s best for us to stay optimally hydrated, but you might not know why.  Besides the obvious fact that we’d die if we didn’t have enough water, it also offers some major benefits to our bodies.

We want more hydration in our cells than a loss of hydration there, because our cells function best when they’re – you guessed it – properly hydrated.  One big thing that highly-functioning cells help with is waste removal by way of urination, perspiration, and pooping.

Did you know that the brain and kidneys have the highest percentage of water in the body?  It’s true.  And if you’re not getting enough water into your bod, then they’re not doing what they need to do to help you stay alive and healthy.

Good hydration helps with cognitive function, it lubricates your joints, improves sleep, and also helps to keep infections down because the organs are able to do what they need to do to flush the toxins out.

A great way to know if you’re sufficiently hydrated is by checking the color of your pee throughout the day.  It should be straw-colored (super light yellow).  Ever notice how your pee is darker first thing in the morning?  That’s because you’re dehydrated from not drinking for many many hours at night.

If you’re taking care of someone and it’s difficult to check their pee color, a general guideline is to aim for them drinking  ½ their body weight in fluid ounces by dinnertime.  So if someone is, say, 150 pounds, have them drink 75 fluid ounces.  Easy math, even for us non-math majors.

Pro tip: cut back on hydrating after dinner so you don’t have to wake up in the middle of the night to go pee.  This includes all liquids (like tea, juice, and booze), not just water.

If you’re not a super fan of plain water, or you just want to mix it up a bit, here are some ways you can get more water into your body:

*Flavor it with fruit – simply chop up your fave and put it in your water bottle or glass.  Watermelon is a great choice for the summertime.

*Flavor it with herbs – to keep you balanced, here are some suggestions: 

-summertime = cilantro, mint, rose petals, or cucumber

-fall = peeled, fresh ginger, lemon, or lime

-winter = peeled, fresh ginger; or cinnamon, sipped with warm water

-spring = peeled, fresh ginger or lemon

Eat foods that are high in water content – these include watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumber, peaches, celery, iceberg and romaine lettuce, tomatoes, zucchini, spinach, strawberries, honeydew melon, kale, broccoli, carrots, oranges, pineapple, and apples.  These are ways to bring in extra water, not as a supplement to actually drinking water throughout your day.  

*Make a (non-caffeinated) tea to sip – ditch the tea leaves and instead go for an herbal infusion.  Just do a quick internet search to make sure the herb you’re using isn’t a diuretic (meaning it makes you pee more).  That would totally defeat the purpose.  Sadly, coffee is a diuretic, so it actually makes you lose more water through urination than you actually drink while enjoying it.  

*Use your favorite container – you don’t need to lug a huge water bottle around with you all day.  Try switching it up.  Even sip water out of a wine glass at night for a change.

Staying hydrated doesn’t have to be boring or a chore, especially if you add in these tips and tricks.  The key is to just keep drinking your water throughout the entire day and slowly cut down in the evening.

Cheers to your health!