The summer heat is upon us, and it’s more important than ever to stay hydrated. While water is essential to our wellbeing, there are some water dos and don’ts that need to be addressed.
QUANTITY
When it comes to figuring out how much water to drink, I suggest listening to your body and looking at your tongue. If you have any cracks in your tongue surface, then your system may need extra hydration. See how it feels to drink about nine to 10 8-oounce glasses a day in the summer and and eight during the cooler months. Also, I suggest you increase your water intake when you exercise.
COLD WATER DON’T
Avoid drinking cold water before, during or after a meal. It can dampen your digestive fire and prevent you from absorbing important nutrients. It can also push the food out from your stomach faster, making you hungry sooner. Did you know that people who drank cold water after breakfast were hungry sooner than those who drank a hot beverage after eating? Best way to drink your water is between meals.
WARM and HOT WATER DO
To help digestion, do drink warm or hot water before and after the meal as it can actually help your digestion. But be careful not drink too much, so you don’t dilute your digestive enzymes and prevent proper absorption. When your body absorbs high-quality nutrients for the least amount of calories, you will crave less food and feel more energetic.
METABOLISM BOOSTING WATER TIP
One of my favorite metabolism boosters is sipping plain hot or warm water during the day. No lemon, no honey, no tea. Begin your day with 20 ounces of hot or warm water, and drink if before your reach for your morning coffee or breakfast. You may feel surprisingly refreshed without needing as much caffeine. Then sip on hot or warm water all day long, and you may find you have more energy and your cravings have gone away. Other possible benefits include clearer skin and brighter skin tone!
BOTTLED WATER DON’T
Bottled water is available in almost any convenient store, vending machine or gas station. Even though it’s a better option to stay hydrated than soda, there can be a lot of chemicals found in plastic water bottles. The biggest issue with plastic bottles is the heat. While being transported from the source to the retail outlet, bottles get heated and plastic can leak out chemicals into the water. That process is often repeated when the water bottles are left in the warm car in the sun. When you choose that water, you also choose the chemicals.
BOTTLED WATER DO
To avoid chemicals from the plastic, I suggest buying glass water bottles. They’re available by brands such as VOSS, Saratoga, Jana and Mountain Valley. My favorite brand is VOSS, as you can easily reuse their small bottles by washing them in the dishwasher and then refilling with the filtered or distilled water at home. Cases of these bottles are available at grocery stores or online. After all, we don’t drink wine from plastic bottles. So, why not show the same respect for water that nourishes our bodies on daily basis?
WATER FOR TRAVELING
When traveling or on-the-go, I recommend water bobbles or Brita bottles–filtered, refillable water bottles that are available online, at Publix and even at Office Depot. These bottles are lightweight, and they can be taken through security at the airport. They come in different colors and make drinking water stylish.
FILTERED WATER DO
Filtered water is a good option to reduce chemicals and trace medicine that is currently found in local water supplies. You can either get a filtered pitcher, under-the-counter filter or an all-home unit, depending on your budget.
