Drink up! Tips for staying hydrated

Drinking water is essential to your health. The human body is made up of about 60 percent water. Improving your hydration habits can improve your health. Choosing water and properly hydrating your body provides many benefits.

Here are some tips to help you make hydration a healthy habit. 

• Make drinking water convenient. Keep a bottle of water in your vehicle, at your desk, in your purse or bag, at the kitchen sink and other areas you frequent often during the day.  When you have water close at hand you are more likely to drink more and more often.
• Add some color. If plain water just isn’t palatable, there are lots of colorful ideas to make it more appealing. Add squirts or slices of lemon or lime, a few springs of mint or basil, cucumber or orange slices and berries or watermelon pieces. 
• Include water-rich foods in your diet. Fruits, vegetables, broth-based soups, beans and oatmeal have high water content to help hydrate your body and give you a feeling of fullness.
• Start and end your day with water. Keep a glass of water at your nightstand and bathroom vanity. Before grabbing your morning coffee, drink a glass of water first. Sip on water as you watch television or read a book before bed.
• Drink a glass of water at every snack and meal. In the busyness of the day it’s easy to forget to drink water, so making sure to drink whenever you eat is a great way to ensure you stay hydrated throughout the day.
• Teach your children to have a taste for water. With so many sugary and flavored drink options, children may never acquire a taste for water if you don’t regularly give it to them and teach them about the importance of drinking water over other choices.