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No doubt you\u2019ve heard that you should drink eight glasses of water each day. Water after all is essential for almost every vital bodily function. But you don\u2019t need to tally glasses or cart bottles everywhere you go to stay well-hydrated. In fact, everyone\u2019s water needs are different, and drinking it isn\u2019t the only way to get your fill. That fruit bowl you picked up at your Mindful caf\u00e9, for example, gave you a good dose of H2<\/sub>O. So how much\u2014and how often\u2014should you be drinking? Here\u2019s a quick refresher on satisfying your thirst.<\/p>\n Pick up on your body\u2019s cues. <\/b>The best way to know if you\u2019re getting enough is simply to listen to your body. If you\u2019re thirsty, you probably need some hydration. Women need about 2.7 litres a day, compared to about 3.7 for men, but those are just general guidelines. If you\u2019re more active or live in a hot climate, you may need more water than someone who lives somewhere cooler or who doesn\u2019t exercise as much.<\/p>\n Think outside the glass. <\/b>When it comes to getting all of this water, it doesn\u2019t have to come from just the tap. You can also use water-rich foods to help meet your needs. Fruits and vegetables are packed with H2<\/sub>O\u2014especially melons, grapefruit, berries, tomatoes, peas, and zucchini. Even the water in coffee and other beverages counts. Just be careful that your drinks aren\u2019t also adding in lots of extra calories.<\/p>\n Give it some flair. <\/b>Perhaps you\u2019re one of many who simply doesn\u2019t like water. We get it; it\u2019s tasteless and kind of boring. Of course, you shouldn\u2019t forgo it altogether. With some creative forethought, you can work some kitchen magic to make water more palatable. Try the spa approach and spruce it up with herbs such as mint or basil. Or add in fruit. But don\u2019t just drop in a wedge of lemon or lime (been there, done that); a few cubes of cut-up watermelon, strawberries, or mango can add a burst of flavor to your cup.<\/p>\n Need Another Reason to Drink Up? <\/b><\/p>\n Water\u2019s benefits go beyond essential bodily functions. Consider these other perks of staying well-hydrated.<\/p>\n It promotes healthy-looking skin. Dry skin is more prone to wrinkling, making water an important tool in the fight against signs that give away our age.<\/p>\n It puts cravings in their place. Our bodies often mistake thirst for hunger, sending out cues to reach for chips and other not-so-good goodies. But by staying hydrated you may save yourself calories your body isn\u2019t actually craving. A good rule of thumb: If you ate within three hours and feel hungry, try drinking water and waiting 20 minutes to see if you\u2019re still hungry.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" No doubt you\u2019ve heard that you should drink eight glasses of water each day. Water after all is essential for almost every vital bodily function. But you don\u2019t need to tally glasses or cart bottles everywhere you go to stay well-hydrated. In fact, everyone\u2019s water needs are different, and drinking it isn\u2019t the only […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[78,79],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9101","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-balanced-eating-uk","category-mindful-eating-uk"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\r\n