With the kind of busy lives we lead, always on the go, we sometimes tend to miss out on taking care of ourselves. Something as simple as drinking enough water can take a backseat. How many times have you found yourself heading for a cup of coffee to deal with a long day at work, instead of a glass of water? Or found that energy drinks do the work if you need to stay focus? However, a common side effect your beverage choices have is that they leave you feeling dehydrated and fatigued. Why, you ask? Because they do not have the required amount of water content that is needed by your body.
Consuming water is recommended by health experts, irrespective of their field. According to Dr Archana Batra, nutritionist, physiotherapist, and a certified diabetes educator in Gurgaon, “It is advisable to drink enough liquids to stay hydrated as 60 per cent of our body is made of water. Insufficient intake of water may result in dehydration, further causing low-grade fever, tiredness, weakened immunity, and low blood pressure.”
So, if just drinking water seems like an ordinary task, she shares some tips to increase your fluid intake:
1. Infusion solution
How about adding a little flavour to your regular water? Infusing water with lemon, mint, grapefruit and strawberry is a great way to add that extra tinge, and helps you increase your fluid intake.
2. Diluted juices
Fresh juices, like orange, are a great way to keep you fresh and hydrated. Orange is rich in vitamin C, potassium and antioxidants, which help boost immunity, and decreases inflammation. She advises adding extra water to dilute the consistency, and steer clear of added sugar if you have any restrictions, before consuming the juice. This way you’re getting the taste of the fruit, coupled with that much-needed fluid.
3. Eat water
Another way to pack in those fluids is to eat water. Dr Batra suggests eating fruits high in water content such as watermelon, orange, cucumber, tomatoes, and strawberries, as they keep you hydrated. They are also rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants needed by the body.
4. Colour mania
A quirky way you can trick yourself into increasing your fluid intake is to take about two to three coloured water bottles, fill them up with water, and label them as any of your favourite drink. This trick is suggested by Sudeshna Bhatt, an advertising executive from Delhi, who says that it is a fun way to ensure that you get your fill of water for the day.
5. Track it
Another effective way to make sure you’re consuming enough fluids is to track its intake. One way to go about it is to keep a journal where you can note down your intake, and set an alarm every time you need to drink up. Or you can head to our diet and fitness tracker under the “Goals” section to log in all the details, and also get reminders for when it’s time to replenish yourself.