5 Easy Ways to Increase Your Daily Water Intake

We are all aware of the health benefits of our daily water intake, and while some of us may struggle to drink 8 glasses of water each day, there are plenty of other ways to increase your water intake, some of which you may already be doing! You might be surprised at how much water your body actually needs per day, but for some it's more or less than others.

Here is an easy way to calculate your daily water intake needs: Simply multiply your body weight in pounds by .5 to find out how many ounces of water you need per day. Then, divide that by 8 to find out how many cups of water per day you should be drinking for your body weight. For example, I currently weigh 130lbs. So here's the math for my body weight.

130 lbs x .5 = 65oz
65oz / 8 = 8.125 cups of water per day

So, as you can see, if you weigh more or less than 130 lbs, your daily water needs may vary quite a bit! And remember, 8 cups of water per day can be very different than 8 glasses of water per day depending on what sized glass you're drinking from.

Now let's talk about how to get those 8 cups of water per day. Water is water right? Well, of course it is, but how you consume it comes in many shapes and sizes. Aside from the basic glasses of water you may drink each day, here are a few other creative ways to upgrade your daily water intake.

1. Coffee - Many of us enjoy coffee each day, some of us drink one cup per day, some of us drink more, but what is coffee made of? Water!

2. Juices and Mixed beverages - One of my favorite new products is the Crystal Light 'On the Go' drink mix. Just pour one of these single serving packets into your bottled water, and you've got a tasty low calorie beverage entirely made of water! In addition to that, natural fruit juices are another great way to add up your daily water intake, 100% fruit juices are made of exactly that, fruit and water.

3. Fruit - Did you know that an orange is 87% water? What about watermelon? Think about fruits that are super juicy, water, they all grow by being fed water!

4. Vegetables - Tomatoes and Zucchini are both 97% water while Eggplant is an astonishing 92%. So go eat your veggies!

5. Grains and Pastas - Okay, first things first, I love Pasta! But, what is pasta cooked in? Water! The same goes with Rice. Both of these food groups provide great resources for water intake because they act as a sponge when cooked. And last but not least, how about a good old fashioned bowl of cereal? The milk in a bowl of cereal contains approximately 87% water.

So, now you've got some great resources and easy tips of ways to improve your daily water intake. Many of these you may have already been doing but didn't realize they counted! Have fun, be healthy, and be conscious of what you put into your body. In general, all natural products are always better than packaged products full of preservatives, but natural products such as fruits and vegetables are also more likely to have more water content as well. Let's start a new slogan... How about a glass of water a day keeps the doctor away! It's the little things we can do to keep our bodies healthy, and adding more water to your diet is a great place to start. Have fun, and enjoy!