WATER: To Drink Or Not To Drink (8 glasses a day)
I've seen both sides of the water debate. Some suggest you MUST get in 64 oz of water a day. There's even a neat little customized formula. Take your weight, divide by 2 and you have an invidividualized water prescription. If I weigh 120 pounds, I divide that by 2 and get 60, so my personal optimal intake is 60 ounces of water a day.
The other side of the water debate claims drinking all that water a day is nonsense and completely uneccesary. You will be at your optimal water intake if you consume your calories from water rich foods such as fruits and vegetables. If you're eating an adequate amount from this food group, you will be hydrated.
Regardless, most agree that water is a better option than sugar fruit juice or a coke. But I often hear this:
"I know I should reach for water instead but I just don't like the taste. It's not satisfying". Take a look: 69 responses to this question in the community: "I don't like the taste of water!"
I agree. The only time I've found that plain water tastes great is after a workout. I've spent years experimenting and finding ways to make water taste great and satisfying.
The reason for my blog post is I stumbled on the lastest way by pure accident and I wanted to share! I've listed the others below but I must start with my new favorite:
GINGER WATER!
I've added fresh ginger to my hot green tea for years. Over the last few months, I watched my husband squeeze it into cold water and didn't find it appealing until a couple of weeks ago when I sprained ankle and I wanted to find ways to help with the inflammation. I was plopped on the couch doing mental gymnastics trying to figure out ways to speed up my recovery while watching him and his ginger ritual. I thought, I have to try that! It was AMAZING!!
This has become a daily ritual. I squeeze about a finger of ginger into my thermos of water and I add a bit of lemon as well. I use this Lime Squeezer which I bought because I squeeze lime into almost everything I eat and it works perfectly for lemon, oranges and now "ginger". Even if it sounds weird you MUST try it!
Other great ways to make water taste great:
1. Spa water: Place sliced cucumber in a pitcher of water with ice. Add a bit of lemon or lime.
2. Citrus Splash: Use that lime squeezer and drop in any of the following:
- lime
- lemon
- orange
- grapefruit
3. Mix it up and get exotic!
- Mandarin orange
- Citron (from India)
- Blood orange
- Pommelo.
- One of my favorites. Also a symbol of the Chinese New year. This fruit is a cross between a grapefruit and orange and it is sublime!
- Fresh pineapple
- Clementine
For hot water, mango can work well. Many times we keep frozen mango in the freezer for an alternative to hot tea.
Have other suggestions? Share them here because it's a big frustration for so many people who write me. Share the wealth.
Jackie
I love the melon water and the colour is also quite appealing. Just crush few slices of watermelon drop into a jug of cold ice water. Add in some lime pieces and some watermelon blocks, and reserve in fridge only for a day. An absolute refresher post workout.
Posted by: cma | October 08, 2010 at 10:45 AM
This goes along with the spa idea.. slice lemons, limes, or oranges. You leave the rinds on when u cut them. Then just throw them in a pitcher of water. I also am a big fan of the new filtrate water system that filters the water into 4 bottles. No more wasting money buying bottled water!
Posted by: Sara | October 07, 2010 at 09:53 PM
I agree. If enough were created to support a large footprint, it would outstrip the natural gas supply and it would create higher gas prices. I would probably put the gas supply at risk, and that would have an impact in home heating. now link my name to know me,and each other we all get the good things.don't think that I cheat you,pls.
Posted by: Jordan Spizike | October 05, 2010 at 04:45 AM
What do you think of the Crystal Lite and other water flavoring products out there on the market right now?
Posted by: RobynDawn1982 | October 04, 2010 at 05:54 PM
I have found that I can easily drink about 2x as much water if I have some sort of a straw than if I just have a glass. I feel like using a straw bypasses the whole taste thing and just helps get the water into my system.
Posted by: Dahlia D. | October 04, 2010 at 02:20 PM