Posted by Zoe Silver
Sometimes, the best thing you can do for yourself is to drink a glass of water. Even though this sounds painfully simple, it actually has a lot of proven benefits for your health.
Drinking the recommended eight glasses of water per day can prevent you from getting the seasonal cold that's going around, put moisture back in your skin, hydrate your body to prevent headaches and energize you. The increasing number of alternative beverages available today makes it difficult to choose bland water over a tangy, carbonated drink, but if you begin to alternate between the two, you will quickly see improvements in your health.
Learning to incorporate drinking water into your daily routine is just like forming any other habit; it takes time and willingness. The general consensus is that it takes two weeks of concentration to form any habit. If you make it a point to drink eight cups of water a day for 14 days, you will soon find yourself craving it, and you will mindlessly reach for your water bottle throughout the day. In the meantime, while you are starting your water-drinking habit, try to spice things up and make it more appealing by adding lemon or lime. Another helpful hint is to drink one glass immediately upon waking up in the morning — this will "set the mood" for the rest of the day and keep you reaching for the glass. Carry a water bottle with you to class, the gym and elsewhere, and always drink at least one glass of water with each meal. These small actions will make a big difference in your life.
A large percentage of the human body consists of water. During the harsh winters that we have here in Saratoga, this percentage can decrease, which is very rough on our health. The heat that blasts through the vents dries up both the air and our bodies. A simple fix like using a humidifier is another way to keep water in your system.
You may not recognize the symptoms of dehydration, but it can commonly consist of a headache, thirst, joint pain, an upset stomach, nausea, dizziness, or even just a slight drowsy feeling. Our environment can dehydrate us persistently, so we need to be very cautious about rehydrating our body to prevent these symptoms and remain lively and able to go about our days. So, run over to the Skid Shop ASAP and pick out a stylish water bottle that you can flash to your friends and encourage them to follow you in your new healthy habit.
I know that water can be expensive, which is why I suggest that you purchase a reusable bottle. This is both eco-friendly and cost-efficient. Still, some of us will not be satisfied with the taste of tap water. That's an easy fix: buy a Brita to keep in your fridge or a reusable water bottle with a built-in filter. This will eliminate any contaminants in your water and also get rid of that "tappy" taste. If you don't feel like purchasing a reusable bottle and a filter, you will likely be overwhelmed with the number of different choices of water available at the store. These different labels and slogans are marketing ploys to get you to spend more money. I say go for the least expensive, but some people will tell you that bottled waters are no different than tap water, so it's a personal decision.
I hope that this article finds you in a state of thirst so that you are inspired to follow my healthful hints. Whatever your reason, whether it is to beautify and hydrate your skin or to get rid of that daily headache, I guarantee that the two weeks of work will pay off in the long run! Until next time, stay warm, stay healthy and drink, drink, drink!