How to Drink More Water

Drinking water is important for digestion and flushing toxins from the body. It also helps when dieting because it helps the body feel fuller. Simple and significant though it sounds, drinking enough water daily can be difficult for some people. The mechanics are not usually the problem. Instead, it's the taste and the monotony. Changing things up a bit can make drinking water a much more pleasurable experience, and it doesn't have to be expensive.

Purchase flavors

A number of brands now produce powders that can be added to water to add flavor, and many of these are sugar-free. Tastes range from tea to orange to raspberry. Packages can be purchased in a variety of sizes, some of which are meant to be used in a single bottle. This makes them convenient to carry for use anywhere and gives a large variety of flavor choices, making it easier to drink more.

The downside is that you are adding chemicals to the water again, just as diet soda contains chemicals you may not want. Drinking too much of artificial sweeteners can also cause gastrointestinal problems. Another potential problem is that name brand powders can end up being rather costly for what it seems you are getting, so try the generic. They tend to have the same basic ingredients and, so, a very similar taste.

Make your own flavors

You can add your own fruit flavor to water, as well. Squeezing a bit of fresh lemon or orange results in a beverage with just a hint of fruitiness. On a hot day, pour it over ice and put some slices of the same or complementary fruit in it, perhaps with a sprig of mint.

If it is difficult for you to get or keep such fruits handy, buy bottled concentrates of lemon or lime juice.

The package counts

Also pay attention to what container you drink from. Beverages served in real glass glasses taste different from those served in plastic, just as cola from a glass bottle has a different flavor than cola from a can. Acetaldehyde from plastic may seep slightly into the liquid, and that may change the flavor slightly.

Bottled waters have a better chance of having some chemical additives since the two materials sit in contact for much longer periods. Tap water is a better choice unless your local water is considered unsafe, but if having the bottles will encourage you to drink more water, they may be worth it.

Change the temperature

Physiologists have now determined that taste buds are affected by the temperature of food and drink we consume. Few people enjoy warm soda or cold coffee. But if we put that coffee over ice to make it REALLY cold, then we have iced coffee that many of us pay extra for at coffee shops. Trying some variety of temperatures may help you discover a taste you enjoy, mixing in other products if you like. For instance, hot water that has had a cinnamon stick steep in it for a while has a nice flavor for those who don't like tea; add a bit of ginger for a different treat. Freeze a lightly flavored water in an ice cube tray for "popsicles" or to blend for a slushy cooler on a hot day. These techniques help you drink more water since the products don't seem like water.

The proof is in the results

Drinking a glass of water when you are hungry may prevent you from overeating. Drinking water instead of sodas, even those with sugar substitutes, will prevent ingestion of potentially harmful chemicals and help your body function better overall. It doesn't have to be plain tap water. Change it up and start enjoying more of this refreshing natural beverage. It will help you look, feel and be healthier, and it will be easier to stick to your diet.

References

"How Temperature Influences Our Taste." Medical News Today. Medicalnewstoday.com.

Doug Cantor. "Why Does Coke from a Glass Bottle Taste Different?" Popular Science. popsci.com.