Do One Thing: Drink more water

According to the American Dietetic Association, most men need about 13 cups of water a day and most women need about 9 cups, in order to help the kidneys function properly, keep joints lubricated, flush toxins from the system and keep skin healthy. In warmer weather, and during exercise, we need even more water to remain properly hydrated. 9-13 cups of water sounds like a lot, but remember that all the water in your diet counts; it isn’t just the glasses of pure water you drink that help you reach your water intake goals, but also the juice, milk, tea and coffee that you drink, as well as the water that you get from foods like soup, lettuce, watermelon, broccoli and grapefruit. Do try to get a number of cups of water from pure water, though. Some tips to help you achieve your water intake goals:

• Start and end your day with a cup of water
• Drink a cup of water with each meal & snack
• Keep a large glass or bottle of water at your desk
• Drink water instead of soda or juice or at least drink a full cup of water for every cup of soda or juice and for each serving wine or beer you drink
• Stop and drink some water each time you see a water fountain
• Try sparkling water, even Poland Spring’s flavored sparkling waters in lemon, lime, mandarin orange, and raspberry-lime

Image: Andy Newson / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

According to the American Dietetic Association, most men need about 13 cups of water a day and most women need about 9 cups, in order to help the kidneys function properly, keep joints lubricated, flush toxins from the system and keep skin healthy. In warmer weather, and during exercise, we need even more water to remain properly hydrated. 9-13 cups of water sounds like a lot, but remember that all the water in your diet counts; it isn’t just the glasses of pure water you drink that help you reach your water intake goals, but also the juice, milk, tea and coffee that you drink, as well as the water that you get from foods like soup, lettuce, watermelon, broccoli and grapefruit. Do try to get a number of cups of water from pure water, though. Some tips to help you achieve your water intake goals:

• Start and end your day with a cup of water
• Drink a cup of water with each meal & snack
• Keep a large glass or bottle of water at your desk
• Drink water instead of soda or juice or at least drink a full cup of water for every cup of soda or juice and for each serving wine or beer you drink
• Stop and drink some water each time you see a water fountain
• Try sparkling water, even Poland Spring’s flavored sparkling waters in lemon, lime, mandarin orange, and raspberry-lime

Image: Andy Newson / FreeDigitalPhotos.net