By Hartford HealthCare Senior Services
The human body, which is made up of 60 to 70 percent water (lean people have more water in their bodies because muscle holds more water than fat), is in need of constant water replenishment. Staying hydrated enables your body to run smoothly throughout the day.
Five Ways to Make Water Less Boring
Let’s face it water isn’t the most exciting drink in the world, but it’s probably the healthiest. Drinking water controls body temperature, flushes out toxins, aids in digestion, and balances blood sugar, to name a few of its benefits. Here are a few tips to help you on your way to staying on track to meeting your daily intake of water!
Eat a Salad: A good 20 percent of our water intake comes from food, according to The New England Journal of Medicine. Lots of foods contain varying amounts of water, but fruits and vegetables have the highest percentages. Iceberg lettuce, zucchini, cucumbers, celery, red cabbage, broccoli, and tomatoes are all more than 90 percent water so the next time you don’t feel like a glass of water stack up on a healthy, water-filled plate of vegetables. Let’s not forget fruits like watermelon and strawberries are also jam-packed with liquid.
Why Not Soup?: Not ready for another glass of water? Try having cup or bowl of soup. Water-based bouillons and broths are a great way to sneak in extra H2O. If you don’t have time to make it yourself go the canned route, and be sure to buy low-sodium and avoid soups that contain cream.
Sip Tea: Drinking tea – which is basically water infused with leaves and herbs – is a great way to increase your intake without feeling like you’re guzzling more plain, old water.
Watered-Down Juice: Give your regular glass of water an extra shot of flavor with a few drops of your favorite juice (the natural kind, with no sugar added). Cranberry, pomegranate, grape, and apple work well for this trick, but go with what taste good to you.
Add Fresh Fruit: Natural, fruit-infused water is very popular these days. Make your own at home by smashing raspberries, strawberries, or watermelon right into a pitcher. Prefer a citrusy taste? Go for lemons, limes and oranges.