Hydration. We all know it is essential to our overall health and well-being. With specific benefits includinghealthier skin, efficient regulation of body temperature, weight loss, cognitive acuity, joint lubrication, cell and organfunction, and toxin removal, why does drinking enough water never seem to make it off our goal list? The benefits areendless! Perhaps, you’re not fond of simply drinking just water. If that’s the case, you’re not alone! There are helpful ways to hydrate your body to a healthy capacity and not feel like you’re drinking a bottomless bottle of water. Here are 5 tips on how to stay hydrated throughout the day:

1. Set an alarm! It’s important to drink water throughout your day and not all in one sitting. One tip is to set an alarm to remind yourself to drink a certain number of ounces every hour. If you love using apps on your cell phone,look into downloading a water tracking app. Another tip is to track the ounces you consume using a water bottle that marks the amount of water you should drink per hour. Get creative!
2. Keep your water bottle with you! Regardless of how you decide to track you water intake, always keep yourwater bottle with you. Whether you’re running errands, working in your garden, busy at work, or just out and about, keep it close! This way you can sip it throughout the day and the task of drinking more water will that much more attainable.
3. Add flavor! There are many recipes available to infuse water that come with great additional health benefitswhen including various fruits and vegetables. Other options include adding collagen, BCAAs, low sugar electrolytes, etc. Just be sure when adding these other options that you’re staying within a healthy limit.
4. Eat hydrating foods! Did you know that our bodies consume approximately 20% of our daily water through thefoods we eat? A healthy and balanced diet aids our bodies in so many miraculous ways! The next time you sit down to write your weekly meal plan, try including some of these delicious and hydrating foods; broccoli, cucumbers, kiwi, celery, eggplant, cauliflower, radishes, zucchini, jicama, watermelon,carrots, strawberries and peaches just to name a few.
5. Monitor alcohol and caffeine! Alcoholic beverages and caffeine can lead to dehydration. If you do have enjoythese beverages from time to time, be sure to rehydrate. As drinking too much of these beverages could possibly negatively affect your body the following day.

Because we work incredibly hard to keep our bodies moving in life — from keeping up with our children, working out, doing house work, engaging in outdoor activities and more, it’s even more crucial for us to take the time to ensure that our bodies stay healthy and hydrated. Take these tips and add them to your routine this coming week. Get creative and give yourself a hydration challenge to add a little fun to your weekly routine. You can even download our Hydration Challenge PDF! Stay hydrated my friends!