Naomi Mead Shares 5 Ways To Cheer Up Water!
Do you ever just forget to drink water, or rely on tea and coffee to keep hydrated throughout the day? Is it only when a real thirst kicks in at the end of the afternoon, that you even think about having a glass of water? (And then opt for a glass of wine instead!)
Do you quite simply just find drinking water pretty boring?!
Even with the very best of intentions, and a large bottle of Evian sat smugly pride of place on the office desk; most of us know that we're not actually drinking enough water. And the statistics confirm this; according to a large survey, 89% of us are not drinking enough water to maintain healthy hydration levels. In fact 13% of women and 20% of men admit to drinking no water AT ALL during the day.
So what are the consequences of this? Common symptoms of dehydration include thirst (yep, if you're thirsty you're already too dehydrated), dizziness, headaches and fatigue. But further to this, research suggests that even mild dehydration can have a significant impact on mood, energy levels and cognitive function. That 3pm slump you experience? It could well be because you haven't had enough water. Not having enough fluids can also lead to digestive problems such as bloating and constipation. Not good.
So should you be drinking more water? Yes, probably! But if you struggle to glug down the clear stuff, here are 5 ways of making it a bit more exciting…
1. Infuse your water with fresh fruit and fresh herbs, to give it a delicious, natural flavour. The possible combinations are endless, but some of our favourites include lemon + fresh ginger, strawberry, lemon & basil, and watermelon + mint. Infruition water bottles are a recent discovery of ours, and we LOVE them. You simply put your chosen fruit/ fresh herbs into the capsule in the bottle, and let it infuse away! There are 2 options: a glass bottle or a plastic sports bottle, and both come in red, green, blue or yellow.
2. Give it a hint of flavour– many people tell me that the only way they can drink water is in the form of squash. The problem with squash is that it's packed with sugar, and the sugar-free versions contain nasty artificial sweeteners such as aspartame. Stur is a water flavour enhancer that is free of both sugar and artificial sweeteners, and is instead contains stevia- a natural plant-derived sweetener.
3. Have a cuppa- herbal and fruit teas are a particularly good alternative to drinking water when it's cold outside! We love Pukka teas, the Three Ginger is particularly delicious, and you also can't beat a fresh mint tea.
4. Eat your water- there are lots of fresh fruit and vegetables with a high water content, and incorporating these “juicy” foods into our diets can help ensure that we stay well hydrated! Quench your thirst with the following fruit and vegetables to eat your water, and get the added boost of vitamins and phytonutrients at the same time-
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- Cucumber – cucumbers are composed almost entirely of water, and form the perfect base for juices and smoothies. Chopped cucumber snacks are also a fantastic to-go snack, delicious dipped in hummus! Cucumber is a fantastic source of silica which helps to strengthen nails and hair, and keep them shiny! It is also rich in other skin-friendly nutrients including vitamin C, beta carotene and magnesium.
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- Watermelon– as their name suggests, watermelons are high in water, around 92%. Deliciously refreshing, watermelon combines perfectly with feta and mint in a summer salad.
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- Tomatoes – ripe tomatoes consist of around 94% water, and this one of the reasons why a bloody Mary makes such a good morning-after drink!
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- Iceberg lettuce– often shunned in favour of the more nutrient-rich (and trendy) greens such as kale, spinach and watercress, when it comes to water content iceberg lettuce comes top of the leaves! It may have gone out of fashion in the 1990s, but you can boost your water content by incorporating some of this crunchy lettuce into your salads.