We’ve all heard that we should be drinking eight glasses of water a day, but is that really ideal for everyone? While that’s easy to remember and easy enough to accomplish, there’s more to water intake than this one-size-fits-all rule. And believe it or not, when it comes to drinking water, you could be doing it wrong.
These are some of the most common mistakes we make with drinking water:
- You’re just not drinking enough - Those eight glasses are a guideline, but most people still aren’t drinking enough to stay hydrated. And if you’re in hot, humid weather or doing activities that make you sweat a lot, you’re going to want to drink more water to make up for the fluid loss.
- You’re avoiding caffeine unnecessarily - Some steer clear of coffee because they’re worried about it’s diuretic qualities, but research shows there’s no evidence of dehydration with moderate coffee intake.
- You’re drinking out of plastic bottles - Throw-away plastic bottles of water may be made with BPA, and exposure to the chemical has been linked with potential health problems. So ditch the plastic and get a good refillable water bottle to stay hydrated on the go.
- You’re not adding lemon - Not only does it add some zing to your water, the vitamin C in the lemon juice can help the body curb levels of cortisol, the stress hormone that tells the body to store fat.
- You’re not grabbing a glass to start the day - If you’re not downing water in the morning, your metabolism may be taking a hit. Dietitian Lisa Jubilee recommends drinking 20 to 32 ounces shortly after waking up and before eating to experience less bloating, more energy and a smaller appetite.
- You’re not downing a glass between boozy drinks - Alcohol can dehydrate you, so before you have another round, pause and drink a glass or two of water to avoid that sluggish, bloated feeling.
- You don’t realize your body wants water, not food - It turns out, lots of us think we’re hungry when we’re actually just thirsty. A study suggests that people inappropriately respond to thirst more than 60% of the time by eating instead of drinking. So if you’re not sure if you’re really hungry, start with water, wait 20 minutes and see how you feel.
Check out the full article at Eat This, Not That