Eagerly waiting for your coffee to brew? Consider starting your day with a glass of water, a small habit with big benefits.
As the new year rolls around, many people contemplate ways to boost their health, often opting for regular exercise or plant-based diets. While these are excellent choices, hydration is a simple yet often overlooked change that can have profound effects on health. Water is essential to our health, yet it doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. No gym memberships or meal prep required—just a glass and a tap.
Drinking enough water can significantly impact your well-being. According to experts, staying hydrated helps improve numerous bodily functions. Proper hydration aids blood pressure, diabetes management, joint health, digestion, and kidney function. It also has aesthetic benefits, like giving your skin a natural glow. “Staying optimally hydrated is a relatively easy lifestyle modification with potentially significant benefit: a longer disease-free life,” says Natalia Dmitrieva of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Incorporating more water into your daily routine is easier than it sounds. Experts suggest adopting a method known as ‘habit stacking’—linking new habits with old ones. Make it a rule to drink water while you wait for your morning coffee or tea. When feeding your dog breakfast or stretching between tasks, use those moments as triggers to drink a glass of water. These small changes can add up over time and are a healthy way to multitask.
Despite the benefits, many Americans don’t drink enough water. Over half the population fails to meet the daily recommended intake of water: 8-10 cups for women and 10-12 for men. Many are unaware of these guidelines, and some simply wait for thirst as a cue, which means they’re already partially dehydrated.
While not all hydration needs to come from water, low-calorie options like plain coffee, tea, and flavored waters are preferable to sugary drinks, which offer no nutritional value. Foods like tomatoes, cucumbers, and oranges also help meet water intake goals. Planning to drink a set amount of water each day—about 2-3 quarts—can make a significant difference, especially if you’re exercising or in a hot environment.
A useful approach is to start each morning by filling a 32-ounce bottle with water and ensure it’s emptied by day’s end, in addition to any other drinks you consume. Assess your progress as the day winds down, and if you’re short on your goals, make sure to catch up before bed.
Adding water to your daily routine is a straightforward and effective way to enhance your health. This small adjustment can lead to lasting benefits, making it well worth the effort.
Source: Yahoo
