x it up with different types of water (see below), plus sneak more into your diet via hydrating fruits and veggies. In the U.S., it’s estimated that about 22 percent of adults’ water comes from their diets and likely even more in European countries. Some of the most water-rich foods include cantaloupe, strawberries, watermelon, lettuce, cabbage, celery, spinach, cucumbers, squash, yogurt, apples, grapes, oranges and pears.
- When drinking alcohol, take it very slow and have a glass of water between drinks (or ideally stop at one drink).
- Drink more when exercising or when spending time in hot, humid climates that make you sweat.
- If you’re sick, recovering from an illness, pregnant or breastfeeding, be sure to consume even more water since your needs will be higher.
Types of Water
There’s more than one way to drink more water and get the benefits of drinking water, which is good news if you don’t necessarily like sipping on plain, unflavored water all day.
Try these variations on plain water. They can help you to meet your daily H2O needs and enjoy the benefits of drinking water:
- Lemon water — Add a slice or two of lemon or lime to your water to increase its flavor and also make it more alkaline.
- Sparkling water — This is water combined with carbon dioxide, which makes it bubbly but doesn’t add calories or salt.
- Fruit-infused water — For added flavor but minimal calories, try water infused with fruits like watermelon, berries, oranges or even herbs like mint or lavender.
- Other hydrating beverages that offer some benefits include cold-pressed juices (made with no added sugar), herbal teas, unsweetened coconut water, bone broth and unsweetened almond/coconut/nut milks.
- Raw water is a form of water that has not been filtered, processed or treated in any way. The idea is that unprocessed water preserves many of the beneficial minerals and compounds found in H20 sourced from natural streams.
- Alkaline water is produced through a process called electrolysis, which splits the water into hydrogen and oxygen to increase the pH of the final product. It typically clocks in with a pH level around 8 or 9 while the pH of water is usually closer to 7.0 or less. Since it’s most alkaline than regular tap water, it can help offset a highly acidic diet that many people in developed nations are prone to eating today, potentially offering benefits like improved mineral status.
Wondering if it’s safe to drink good old-fashioned tap water? Although many people prefer the taste of bottled water over tap water, it’s generally considered safe in most areas of the United States to drink from household taps.
Still, tap water may contain more fluoride than filtered or bottled water as well as certain chemicals and compounds that could be dangerous in high amounts. A good way to benefit from tap water while limiting risk is to install a water filter that can help decrease heavy metals and chemicals.
Risks and Side Effects
Is drinking only water healthy? In other words, should you drink other things too, such as juice or tea?
Disadvantages of drinking water only can include missing out on other electrolytes, including sodium/salt, and antioxidants found in drinks like tea, coffee and some juices. Overall, while water should be your main source of fluids, it’s not a bad idea to mix things up with other anti-inflammatory drinks too — just be sure to avoid sugary drinks, which are linked to obesity and other health concerns.
Can you drink too much water? Yes, it’s called water intoxication.
People who have thyroid disease or kidney, liver or heart problems need to be careful about balancing the amount of water they consume.
If you take daily medications (such as diuretics, thyroid medication, NSAIDs, opiate pain medications and some antidepressants) to help manage a chronic health condition, make sure you understand how this affects your water needs. Talk to your doctor about whether or not your meds may make you retain water or if they may increase your urine output.
- Some of the effects that drinking water has include regulating your body