I’m sure that many people have closed their minds off to the advice that we must drink more water to maintain optimum health, having heard it so many times from doctors, family and friends. I have struggled to drink more water for many years as getting off the sugar highs which coke and soda’s provide can be challenging at times of increased workload.

The fact is that we all need to face up to the reality that it is vital that our water consumption is regular, and that we drink plenty of water each day. There are so many reasons to support this including preventing dehydration, eliminating free radicals from our systems, cleaning out toxins, improving skin, reducing risk of infection, etc. Drinking more water rather than sugary drinks is a sure way to control weight and reduce diabetes risk, not to mention the many other health benefits.

Studies have shown that the average person should drink at least 2 litres of water per day. I find that once you really get hooked on drinking more water and improving your health, it is easier to drink much more than this.

In my quest to drink more water and promote a healthy lifestyle, I hope you will find the following tips helpful to make sure you have adequate water intake as well.

Substitute Water For Other Drinks

If you find it hard to go straight to drinking water solely, start by substituting your usual drinks with water. This way you can gradually ease yourself off drinking sodas, coca cola, coffee, alcohol, etc. I found it difficult to go from drinking coke to water in one go, especially since my body was accustomed to the “sugar kick” experienced when working late at night on projects requiring a high level of concentration. Ease yourself off whatever you are drinking slowly and this way, you will find it much easier to increase your water consumption.

Always Take Water With You

It’s amazing that just by taking water with you when you’re on the go, you will reach for it without thinking as you’re consciously aware that it’s there and available. This can be quite addictive but what’s wrong with drinking too much water as long as you don’t go overboard? Take a water bottle with you in your bag where-ever you go, a bottle in your car and at your desk or work space at all times.

Drink It How You Like It

If you’re like me, I find drinking water at room temperature more difficult. I find that by having a ready supply of ice makes drinking water taste so much better. If you work a lot at your desk, consider getting a small fridge/freezer nearby to chill your water, or if you especially like ice in your drinks, invest in a small ice maker. It could be the best investment you ever make. For just a few hundred dollars, these electronic gadgets create ice in just a few minutes and are small enough to sit right on your desk, or have in your kitchen on standby.

Improve the Taste By Purifying

The taste of purified water is so much better than from the tap. I know that bottled water in many countries which is already purified is very expensive, such as in my native home New Zealand for example, where water can cost $3-4 dollars per litre. Fortunately, here in Bangkok where I spend a lot of my time, bottled water is cheap (about 0.40 cents USD per litre). If you don’t have this luxury of inexpensive bottled water, invest in a good water purifier. It will not only improve the taste of the water, but you know that any harmful impurities have been removed.

Add Flavour with a Dash of Lemon

Try adding a slice of lemon to your water. It improves the flavour and is a great way to encourage you to drink more. In the initial stages of increasing your water consumption, another technique is to mix water with say fresh apple juice. Don’t add too much though as juices increase the sugar content of the water you are drinking, so only use this technique to get yourself going.

Think of the Health Benefits

Actively think of the health benefits to your body. I find this strategy helps tenfold as a huge encouragement to drink more. Think of all the toxins you are flushing from your system, the calories you are reducing from not drinking sodas and fizzy drinks (and hence helping to lose weight). In addition, drinking more water helps the nutrients to travel around your body more effectively, as well as transporting oxygen which is essential to health.

Make the decision now and lead a more healthy and energetic lifestyle. To your health!