Recently, I was regularly suffering from debilitating nausea, vertigo, and fatigue. When I went to my doctor to address these issues, she told me to do two things: eat more throughout the day and drink more water. I was shocked. I expected a much more severe diagnosis and prescription. Instead, I found I was simply dehydrated. Fortunately, all I needed to do was adjust my daily eating and drinking habits to strengthen my body and reenergize my mind.

Hydration is incredibly vital to your overall health. The human body is comprised of approximately 60% water. Going without it can lead to headaches, dry mouth and skin, nausea, fatigue, muscle cramps, rapid breathing and heartbeat, irritability, and decreased brain function. However, keeping your body consistently quenched can be difficult when you have a busy life and hectic schedule.

Fortunately, there are options to help you increase your H2O intake throughout the day.

Keep Water On the Go

The one thing that has exponentially increased my water intake is my insulated water bottle. Not only is it portable and easy to carry with a convenient handle, but it keeps my water iced. All. Day. Long. I personally think water tastes better chilled. Normal water bottles heat up easily throughout the day when left in a bag or car. Chilled water is much more refreshing, and these bottles make it easy with up to a gallon in capacity. My favorite is the 40 oz. bottle. When I know I’ll be out for an extended period of time, I’ll even keep a water jug in my car and fill my bottle as needed. My ice stays intact for hours, so I can easily refill for continuous refreshing hydration all day. There are many brands, colors, and sizes now that can be found online or in your local wholesale store.

Drink Before You Eat

If you have trouble drinking water consistently, make it a habit to drink first thing in the morning and before every meal, work out, and bedtime. Increasing your water intake is a great way to promote healthy digestion and weight management. It also helps to naturally flush toxins from your body Drinking a glass of water before eating suppresses your appetite and increases your metabolism. Often hunger is confused with thirst, so before you reach for food, make it a habit to drink first. When you’re eating out, continue drinking water instead of dehydrating liquids like soda and tea. Plus, it’s free. You can also add water-rich foods to your diet, such as oranges, peaches, strawberries, grapefruit, melons, cucumbers, zucchini, celery, tomatoes, lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, bell peppers, broths, skim milk, cottage cheese, and plain yogurt.

Try Tasty Water

With an abundance of delicious drink options available today, drinking water can get boring. However, you can add a little flavor to your life by trying flavored water. Although drinking plain water is the best option for your health, adding more water to your diet is better than nothing. Sparkling, flavored, and coconut water can be found in many local grocery stores. If you’re looking for a more natural option, infuse your water with fruit like berries, oranges, kiwi, melon, coconut, lime, and lemon. You can also experiment with mint, cucumber, basil, ginger, and even jalapenos. There are many recipes available online. The bottom line is, the more enjoyable you make your water, the easier it will be to stay hydrated.

Water is a simple and convenient resource that promotes full body and brain health. Increasing your water intake can improve a host of various physical conditions you may not have expected. Try some of these tips and watch your skin brighten, energy levels increase, and overall health improve. Your mind and body will thank you!