A new year brings new goals. Most often, this means healthier eating, more regular exercise, and a greater focus on self-care. As another year comes to a close, homeowners are preparing to embark on their healthiest year yet. But, they’re forgetting the most important goal to add to their list - drinking more water. Water is a powerhouse of health. It can improve physical and mental performance, aid in digestion and weight loss, and can improve your overall wellbeing. Unfortunately, it’s often overlooked - until now. Discover why you should drink more water for the upcoming year, and how it can help you achieve your health-related resolutions.
 

Water Improves Physical and Mental Performance

Without water, basic daily functions like walking and concentrating are nearly impossible. Water is imperative to cognitive and physical function. A lack of it may lead to impaired concentration, alertness, and short-term memory. If you plan on regularly visiting the gym in 2019, you will especially want to increase your water intake. Around 6-10% of the body’s water is lost through sweat during strenuous physical activity. As so, it needs to be replenished as soon as possible to retain normal function. Not to mention, dehydration can lead to reduced endurance and motivation while increasing fatigue. What does this mean for your New Year’s resolution of hitting the gym more often? It will become a lot more difficult.
 

Water Helps with Weight Loss and Digestion

Water and weight loss go hand in hand. In a University of Illinois study, researchers found drinking water had a handful of benefits. This included fewer sweetened beverages consumed as well as fewer fats, sugar, salt, and cholesterol in the participant’s diet. Most notably, a higher water intake meant a lower calorie intake. Wondering how much water to drink a day to reap these benefits? Researchers found that just one additional cup of water every day can make all the difference. While this might not seem like much, it adds up (fast). Water also plays a large role in the digestive process. When we eat, food builds up in our bodies and can cause bloating, constipation, and irregularity. Regularly drinking water can help move food through our bodies more quickly, helping us to avoid discomfort.
 

Water Maintains Overall Well-Being

Water keeps our bodies functioning. Whether outdoors in the heat or indoors working out, water leaves our body through the form of sweat to help our skin cool down. But, when water leaves our body, it needs to be replenished to avoid dehydration and fatigue. Water also helps rid our bodies of toxins. This might be excess sugar from the holiday season or a lingering winter cold. During sickness, over-the-counter medication and the production of mucus dries out the body. Drinking water can help keep you hydrated while also loosening up mucus in your head. For the best results, make sure you drink high-quality water. Water filters from Culligan’s Water Filtration System can keep your home and body replenished with cleaner, safer water.

There are many benefits of drinking more water. If one of your goals is to consume more water, check out these simple tips on how to drink more water every day.

  • Set A Timer & Create Mental Triggers: Daily schedules fill up quickly meaning water falls to the wayside. To keep hydration a priority, set a timer to sound every 30 minutes as a reminder to replenish. Or, create alarms on your phone, computer, or smartwatch. You can also pay close attention to your body’s cues for rehydration. This can include headaches, fatigue, dry mouth, bright-colored urine, and cravings for salty foods. If you feel thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. In other words, find water - STAT.
  • Integrate Water into Your Routine: Another way to drink more water is to incorporate it as part of your daily routine. For example, for those with desk jobs, why not make it a habit to drink some water every time you get up from your chair? Drinking a glass of water after every meeting or completing a task is a great way to drink water more often. Or when you are about to consume a meal, try drinking a glass before you put fork to plate. One of the easiest ways to do this is by drinking a glass of water before you head to bed. Refill it before you turn the lights off and be sure to drink the full glass in the morning after you wake as well. Integrating little changes that increase your daily water intake can make a big difference towards better health.   
  • Bring a Water Bottle with You Wherever You Go: So, now you might be wondering "how can I make myself drink more water?" The answer is simple - invest in a water bottle. Specifically, look for water bottles that help you drink more water by lighting up when it’s time to drink. Best of all, there’s a water bottle for everyone. For those who prefer cold water, look for an insulated bottle. If you want your bottle to match your outfit, take your pick from the endless prints at your disposal.
  • Use Rubber Bands: Unsure about how much water to drink? Daily intake should be at least 64 ounces a day. This might sound daunting, but you can gradually build your consumption over time. Start by using rubber bands to track your progress. At the beginning of each day, wrap your bottle with four to five bands. Every time you finish the bottle, fill it up and remove a band. Sure, it might sound silly, but you’ll be surprised at how much your inner-competitiveness shines through.

 
So, why drink water? Water helps us carry out basic, day-to-day functions. Not to mention, it keeps us healthy and energetic. As you finalize your list of New Year’s resolutions, don’t forget to add “drinking more water” to the top. But, don’t just drink any water. Make sure your water is clean by getting a water test with Culligan this New Year’s. After all, healthy water creates a healthy home (and a healthier you).