As a mom, one of the first things I love to do in the morning is to grab a hot cup of coffee. Holding that cup in my hands, gives me the idea that I will gain some magic energy to start the day off before the little monsters wake up. That was the old me. I still drink coffee, don’t get me wrong, but nowadays, I start my day off by chugging a big bottle of lemon water instead! Lately, I’ve made it my goal to develop a daily habit of drinking more water and I’ve definitely seen the benefits of staying hydrated. I’m talking about dewy skin, reduced inflammation, an even complexion, improved digestion, improved mental clarity, but possibly my favorite benefit especially as a mom, MORE energy! By now, you’re probably thinking, oh great another post about water. But deep down inside, you know staying hydrated is good for you but you don’t know why? Well, I’m living proof that all the hype around drinking more water is real. If you want to drink more water and improve your overall health, feel free to read on for some amazing benefits of drinking water, a few fun facts, and most importantly, how to make it your daily habit!

“Now that’s what I call high quality H2O.” – Bobby Boucher

BENEFITS

Anti-aging

Do you know how much you spend on skincare? Afraid to admit the number? I do too. I love using skincare products but what I’ve realized is that a lot of the products I buy to correct my skincare issues can simply be addressed by staying hydrated consistently on a daily basis. If you have problems with uneven complexion, inflammation, aging, and fine lines, I’m here to tell you that drinking water might not completely solve those problems, but I can guarantee that it helps ALOT. When you’re well hydrated, it’s as if the clock has been turned back 5-10 years. The benefits of staying hydrated are endless! A lot of the fine lines disappear and you’ve achieved an effortless glow without resorting to a $250 night cream or $80 shimmery foundation. 

“Moisture is the essence of wetness, and wetness is the essence of beauty.” – Derek Zoolander

Improved digestion

One of the main reasons I drink water first thing in the morning is because it helps to activate my digestive system. Drinking water allows my body to activate and flush out my organs, thus reducing risk of heartburn, stomach ulcers, and constipation. This is why drinking water is important rather than turning to fiber supplements!

Keeps vital functions running smoothly

We need water to improve lubrication in our joints to improve shock absorption, which can reduce long-term joint pain as we get older. And of course, staying hydrated allows us to retain moisture in our mouths, eyes, and nose, which helps reduce friction and damage. Staying hydrated also reduces chances of urinary tract infection or other kidney related diseases. 

Breastfeeding

The benefits of staying hydrated is ESPECIALLY important for new mothers. Staying hydrated helps to keep vital functions running smoothly, but most importantly, it can help with your milk supply! My sister Christine just had her sweet little girl 3 months ago and trust me she’s not a water person. She hates drinking water but loves drinking anything that is sweet and tasty. When she started noticing her little girl Mila getting more fussy after feedings, I asked her why her feeding only took 5 mins. She told me it’s because Mila would pull away after a while and to her, that’s the signal that she’s done. But I told her she might be done because there’s no more milk, and rather not because she’s full. That’s when I suggested that she drink more water. And lo and behold, as soon as she started drinking more water, sweet little Mila started feeling more full and satisfied. Obviously, every new mother is different, but it’s a good reminder that sometimes the simplest solutions are right in front of us.

Improved mental clarity and brain function

Prolonged dehydration affects the production of hormones and neurotransmitters, thus leading to problems with thinking and reasoning. 

Weight Loss

Lastly, drinking water instead of sodas or beverages with high sugar content can help with weight loss because water is sugarless and contains zero calories! Drinking water also helps reduce cravings and appetite before meals. 

SIGNS YOU’RE DEHYDRATED

• Dry mouth
• Not peeing very much
• Headache
• Dark or yellow urine
• Dizziness 
• Dry skin 
• Lack of energy 
• Bad breath

HOW MUCH WATER SHOULD YOU DRINK?

There is no universal rule of thumb to how much water you should drink, but on average, a normal person should drink around a minimum of 64 fluid ounces. Breastfeeding mothers should drink an additional 24 ounces of water on top of that. Another way to measure would be that you should drink half an oz to an oz of water for every lb you weigh. It can also vary based on how much a person works out.

HOW TO MAKE IT YOUR DAILY HABIT

“We KNOW water is essential to life, but the properties, functions and extent to which that occurs are still widely unknown. We haven’t scratched the surface of how critical and widespread the role of water is in our health. It makes it seem so stupid to simply “forget” to drink water or be “too busy” to hydrate our bodies. Are you too busy to live?”  – Darin Olien 

The benefits of staying hydrated

1. Buy a water filter-Buy a water filter so that you can have access to clean filtered water all the time. Other great alternatives are home water coolers such as Alhambra. 
2. Buy a water bottle or canteen-Drink water and reduce waste! Instead of buying single-use water bottles, opt to buy a reusable water bottle instead. There are a ton of water bottles that are vacuum insulated to keep your water nice and cold throughout the day. Check out my favorite things to see which water bottle brands I love.
3. <a href="http://<a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VKDJ8HR/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07VKDJ8HR&linkCode=as2&tag=rootsandknuck-20&linkId=0880d7cc93534e423e7bf5d2b6aa6121"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B07VKDJ8HR&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=rootsandknuck-20" >Keep multiple bottles throughout the house-Sometimes accessibility is a minor issue that makes a big difference. Going back to your room to get your water bottle can seem like running a mile. But if you leave several bottles throughout the house that you frequently go to, you would be surprised as to how much more water you will drink just because it is more accessible to you. 
4. Track your intake-Depending on the size of your bottle, make sure to make a mental note of how many refills you should be drinking. Ex: If you have a 24 oz bottle, you might make a mental note to refill your bottle at least four times a day! I have a 36 oz bottle because I refill it three times a day.
5. Create short term goals-Develop the habit of drinking water by aiming to reach the recommended amount for 1 day, 3 days, and eventually 2 weeks in a row!
6. Avoid things that lead to dehydration-Drink water instead of coffee, alcohol, or salty foods.
7. Adjust your intake based on your lifestyle-People that exercise on a consistent basis should up their intake of water.  People that are working from home now should definitely try to stay consistently hydrated because you have access to a bathroom all day and staying hydrated gives you natural energy to stay focused.

I hope you found this post helpful! Drinking more water has truly changed my life and I’ve seen how my body has responded. The benefits of staying hydrated completely outweigh the annoyance of having to go pee all the time, I promise you! I hope you make the choice to do the same. Let’s make this healthy habit a part of our daily routine and stay hydrated!

Cheers!

Tiffany