Should you be drinking more? Step aside wine, we’re talking about water!
Hydration is so important for your overall health. It can make your skin glow, reduce headaches, prevent bad breath, and even curb your appetite.
Dr. Jennifer Ashton, CBS’s chief medical correspondent, did a 30 day water challenge, and wrote about in her book, The Self-Care Solution. And even with her extensive medical background, she was astonished by the benefits she got from drinking 2.4 liters of water a day.
We are lucky enough to have access to clean water, and it’s free, so why not give hydration a try and do your own 30 day challenge?
About Those Eight Glasses a Day
You may have heard the advice to drink eight to 10 glasses of water a day. The suggested volume of H2O will help purge toxins from your body, but for many, it’s easier said than done! Many people are in the habit of drinking only coffee in the morning, and even a soft drink with lunch. With these daily rituals in place, it’s no surprise that 75 percent of Americans are clinically and chronically dehydrated!
So what would sustained hydration feel like? As Dr. Ashton upped her water intake, she noticed the following:
- A reduced desire for coffee
- Decreased levels of hunger
- More plump and youthful skin
- Increased energy levels
- Improved short-term memory
- Disappearance of dry-mouth sensations
Getting Started
Ashton offers a few tips on making a start toward hydration. The first step is to figure out a daily water target. How much water should you drink? Experts recommend that women drink 2.7 liters a day, men 3.7 liters. Others say it’s healthy to drink half your bodyweight in ounces per day. Decide how much water you will drink each day, and then figure out a plan that will work for you! Aston, for example, chilled three .8 liter bottles of water overnight to consume the following day, one before work, one during, and one after.
If you need help, check out your App store for hydration apps, consider a smart water bottle, or simply set your phone alarm to remind you to drink up.
Every day is an opportunity to try new things and adopt new routines that can reinvigorate your body and mind. Happy hydrating- let us know how you do!
