Tips for Staying Hydrated

Everyone that knows me is aware of how much I love to talk about hydration, as it's a key component to our everyday health. I frequently have clients come in complaining of headaches and my first question is always, "How much water have you been drinking?" While clients initially say they drink enough water, I often learn that they only drink 16 to 24 ounces of water a day, which is only sustainable for people weighing 32 to 48 pounds! So many Americans live every day dehydrated, and it's my goal to educate and encourage others to take responsibility for their hydration.Enter your text here ...

How to Hydrate 

Hydration is important, but you don't want to drink too much, too fast as you need to allow your body to adjust to drinking more water. Evaluate how much water you're currently drinking and let that guide you towards better hydration habits. If you estimate that you drink 16 ounces of water every day, start with adding in 8 ounces and then continue drinking 24 ounces of water for a couple of days until you feel comfortable. After that, steadily add 8 more ounces of water every few days until you reach your goal intake.

You may be hesitant because you find yourself going to the restroom more than you typically would, especially for the first 30 days. There is no doubt that you will have this issue, but the end certainly justifies the means. Your body likely has adapted to the lack of water which means it sucks water out of your consumed food in an attempt to reserve hydration. When you work towards your goal water intake, your body is flushing out that reservoir, resulting in increased trips to the restroom. Once you're accustomed to drinking more water, your brain will be trained to know that your body will be regularly hydrated thus resulting in fewer bathroom runs.

Once you have reached your goal water intake, be sure to stick with it for 30 to 60 days to form the much-needed habit. 

How to Make Water Taste Better 

I've heard time and time again that people don't drink water because it doesn't have a flavor and tends to get boring. We have a solution for you – just add a couple of drops of essential oil to your water for some extra flavor. 

When adding essential oils to your water, it's important to put it in a glass or stainless-steel cup, and not a plastic container. Essential oils are meant to eat away at synthetic products, and when it's placed in a plastic container (synthetic material), it slowly breaks down the plastic. This break down of synthetic materials is released into your water and thus into your body. I personally only use doTERRA essential oils as I'm comfortable ingesting this brand. 

I've found that essential oil water actually helps me drink more throughout the day! One of my favorite things to do is add one or two drops of lemon essential oil in my glass of water first thing in the morning. I've found that when I start my day with lemon-infused water, I'm more likely to meet my water intake goals. This also kick starts your metabolism and tastes great. If you're looking for an essential oil to add to your water that will give you an immune boost, add a couple of drops of doTERRA's On Guard to your glass of water. This oil has cinnamon in it and can add a nice flavor to your water as well! 

The importance of hydration cannot be stress enough. It's something I'm truly passionate about, and I hope to give you some inspiration to start hydrating! 

Hydration is a key part of your health journey, but there are so many other factors that come into play. Come into the office for a Zytoscan to learn more about what your body needs. 

Don't be thirsty, my friends!