How to drink more water as 1 in 10 Brits say they never drink it
The NHS recommends between six to eight glasses of water per day, which is between 1.5 to 2.5 litres.
How much water do you drink a day? If a new study is anything to go by, the you’re likely not drinking enough.
A new survey has found that as much as one in 10 Brits say they never drink water, and that millions more are drinking less than the daily recommendation.
Read more: This motivational bottle helps me drink more water (and my skin has never looked better) - Yahoo Life UK, 3-min read
In fact, 39% of the 2,000 people surveyed by Zip Water said that they only have the recommended daily amount of water 'once in a blue moon', and 24% of people who don’t like water avoid it due to the taste and 25% find it 'boring'.
While 30% of people keep a bottle of water handy to try and up their intake throughout the day, and 29% glug water first thing, here are some other ways to up your water intake if you’re not a fan.
What is the recommended water intake per day?
The NHS recommends between six to eight glasses of water per day, which is between 1.5 to 2.5 litres. However, extra fluid is needed during hot weather or exercise as you may be sweating more.
The benefits of being hydrated
Some of the benefits of keeping hydrated, according to Harvard University, include:
Preventing infections
Keeping organs functioning properly
Regulating boy temperature
Keeping joints lubricated
Delivering nutrients to cells
Being dehydrated can affect your kidney function, lead to a loss of strength and stamina and can manifest itself in headaches, dizziness and lightheadedness.
Read more: Do tea and coffee count towards daily water intake? - Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read
Tips to increase your water intake
1. Invest in a ‘motivational’ water bottle
If constantly going back and forth to your kitchen or office sink to fill up your cup is time you considered wasted, an all-in-one water bottle might be the perfect solution for you.
A motivational water bottle from QuiFit is 2.2 litres and has time stamped markings down the side so you know how much water you should consume by what time each day.
2. Swap fizzy drinks for sparkling water
If you love the feel of a fizzy drink on your tongue, you can try swapping it for sparkling water to get that same sensation with more hydration benefits.
3. Add fruit to your water
If it’s the taste of water that's putting you off, try adding a slice of lemon or lime to your glass of water or even some strawberries to get it a fruity taste.
Read more: What to eat to beat the heat: 15 foods with high water content - Yahoo Life UK, 3-min read
4. Swap regular tea for herbal tea
While your English Breakfast tea does technically count towards your daily fluid intake, if you want to increase your water consumption consider swapping to a herbal tea like a green tea as this is essentially hot flavoured water.
Green tea is also a good option if you’re looking to drink less coffee as it has naturally occurring caffeine.
5. Eat more fruit and vegetables
While you should certainly be aiming to reach your daily water intake goals from fluid alone, there are some foods that contain high amounts of water that can help aid this hydration.
The fruit and vegetables with the highest water content include cucumber, iceberg lettuce, celery, radishes, tomatoes, green peppers, cauliflower, watermelon and spinach.
