Most of us have been urged to drink more water. There are even challenges that encourage drinking a gallon+ each day! Personally, I would rather hydrate smarter not harder and I am going to share how you can too!
Hydration Quality Matters
The reasoning behind the gallon water goal may be that our water today isn’t as hydrating as it once was. Therefore, our bodies aren’t able to fully utilize the recommended 2 liters of water we attempt to drink. Because of the evolution of society over time, our municipal and bottled water has become highly processed in order to meet the safety standards of our cities, counties, and states.
While cleanliness is important and necessary, the processing and reprocessing over time has removed minerals and nutrients that are beneficial for human hydration. Additionally, cleaning agents have been introduced that have been shown to make us even thirstier (chlorine, chloramine, fluoride, etc). There are several action steps we can implement in order to take our hydration back. All are accessible to you, if you choose!
1. Filtration Systems:
| Any water filtration system will offer improvement to your water. Brita Pitchers and Zero Water filters are a great place to start. Using these options will eliminate your consumption of single-use plastic water bottles, which damage our oceans, wildlife, and our own bodies. The chemicals used to make plastic can easily leech into the water inside if the temperature gets past 158F (happens when outside air temp. gets to 90 degrees). The same plastics are used inside of most takeaway coffee cups at cafes, all plastic water bottles, acidic juices, and milk jugs. If you are wanting to level up your water filtration game, I recommend investing in a Berkey Water Filter. This option is a heavy duty system that has the ability to even filter river water into clean drinking water! In addition to the charcoal filters, they also have a fluoride filter for purchase. This is a great option for anyone wanting a more powerful filtering system, for someone who has heavily processed municipal water, or if you plan to (or already do) live off-grid. |
2. Hydration Through Juicing
| Juicing fruits and vegetables is a tasty way to hydrate even deeper. I have heard the common adage, “I would rather chew my food than drink it,” but because of the fiber we are unable to take in a large enough quantity of vegetables to get the full benefits of the hydration, vitamins, and minerals they have to offer. Foods like celery, cucumbers, greens, and ginger are often eaten sparingly but offer a huge healthy punch to the immune system when juiced. Example: To understand the benefits of fresh juiced produce let’s compare it to soup to make my point clearer. For example, sometimes when we are sick or queasy plain soup-broth is a nice way to get some nutrients into our systems. But when we are feeling back to normal we choose soups that are full of a variety of ingredients – veggies, grains, greens, lemon, spices, etc. In this example, plain tap water is the broth and fresh juice would be the heartier soup. Simply put, juicing can add a healthier variety in hydration and nutrition into our precious bodies. If you are interested in trying out juicing, I have a process that I recommend. Juicers tend to be a larger kitchen appliance and often only serve one purpose and can end up collecting dust on the back shelf. Because of this, I recommend my clients check a thrift store like Goodwill or Salvation Army to buy their first juicer. Buying used will save money and allows you to see if you enjoy juicing. After using the juicer for awhile, you can graduate to a better quality juicer and shop around for the right one for you. If juicing isn’t in your budget at all, simply try squeezing a lemon, lime, or other citrus into your morning glass of water. This deeply hydrates our cells and requires no additional equipment purchases. |
3. Hydrating Foods
Adding more hydrating foods to your diet is a great way to support digestion and elimination, increase energy, clear and even out skin tone, aid in hair growth, reduce or eliminate dry eyes, freshen breath, and so much more. Consider adding more of these foods into your day-to-day meal plan:
- Lemon (juice)
- Watermelon
- Mango
- Cucumber
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Oranges
- Grapefruit
- Grapes
- Papaya
- Honeydew Melon
- Cantaloupe
- Apples
- Celery
All foods that have been cooked are dehydrating, on various levels, for the body. This doesn’t mean all cooked foods are bad, it simply means that we should keep this in mind and truly support ourselves in staying hydrated. To do this, simply add a hydrating food as a side whether that’s a handful of spinach, a side salad, or fresh veggies – they’ll all work!
4. Simple Steps to Adopt Today
- Juice in the morning when you wake up
- Add a salad to your lunch
- Make your own hydrating dressing by blending fresh tomatoes, zucchini, your favorite spices, and a pinch of salt
- Swap out coffee and other caffeinated drinks for herbal tea or lemon/citrus water
- Balance hydrating and dehydrating foods
- Drink water throughout the day
- Invest in a water filter of some type
- Eat more fruit and vegetables
- Limit chocolate; try carob as a cocoa alternative
- Begin noticing your salt intake
- Find your own hydrating balance
Hydration is key for good immunity, long strong hair, smooth skin, restful sleep, proper digestion, reducing pain and inflammation, and so much more! Being mindful of our own hydration is an easy way to support our health and happiness. What are some ways that you stay hydrated?