5 Practical Tips to Improve Hydration
1. Have a glass of water first thing in the morning
Having a glass of water first thing in the morning would be a great way to start your day with some hydration. As you build up this habit, it will become second nature in no time where you would reach for your morning glass of water the moment you wake up. This would secure at least 250ml in your hydration bank.
2. Schedule mid morning and mid afternoon water reminder
For busy individuals who need reminders to drink, setting water reminders into your schedule would help you to remember to drink. This is especially so for those who tend to be hyper focused at work and barely stop when you are in the zone. Adding mid-morning and mid-afternoon reminders will give you an additional 500ml of water.
3. Infuse a little flavour to your water
Fruits infusion can add flavour to your water, making it more palatable for those who prefer some flavour. Drinking plain water may be boring for some. So add a slice of lemon or check out the list of fruits you may add to enhance the taste of water. You may end up liking to drink water after this.
4. Eat food/fruits with high water content
Did you know that about 20% of the fluid we absorb into the body comes from our food. This 4th tip is to consume food or fruits with higher water content. Included in this category are soups, congee, vegetables and juicy fruits. This way, we can “eat our water”. A bowl of soup would give us approximately 150-250ml of water, adding to our hydration account.
5. Minimize fluids that cause a diuretic effect
Caffeinated drinks such as coffee and tea can cause a diuretic effect. This effect may be more evident in individuals more sensitive to them. You would know this by the amount of times you have to visit the washroom after consuming such drinks. In the same group, alcohol can also cause a diuretic effect. Instead of conserving fluids, such drinks cause our kidneys to excrete more water, which may cause us to be in a hypohydrated state especially if our daily intake of water is sub-optimal. Weaning off caffeinated drinks to 1 cup a day may be a good start for those who need multiple cups. Once you are adapted, you may realize you do not need so many cups of caffeinated drinks to function well.
Summary
Have a glass of water first thing in the morning
Schedule mid morning and mid afternoon water reminder
Infuse a little flavour to your water
Eat food/fruits with high water content
Minimize fluids that cause a diuretic effect
Hope these tips may be useful in your journey to staying hydrated for better HEALTH!
