Water IS a miracle product and it makes up 60% of our body weight. Take a look at everything water does for your body and health:

• Flushes toxins out of vital organs
• Carries nutrients to cells
• Regulates body temperature
• Lubricates and cushions joints
• Aids the digestive system
• Helps the brain manufacture hormones and neurotransmitters
• Protects your spinal cord and other sensitive tissues

So, now you know how important it is, how much do you need? The Institute of Medicine says the adequate intake for men is roughly 13 cups (3 liters) of total beverages a day and 9 cups (2.2 liters) a day for women. This can include coffee or tea, but the majority of your intake (8 cups) should be from water. If you engage in moderate exercise (not talking about running a marathon) you should add an extra 1.5 to 2.5 cups of water to your day.

1. Lemon Water in the Morning

Every single morning before I eat or drink anything-and that includes my coffee-I reach for a glass of lemon water. I squeeze about half a lemon into 8 ounces of room temperature water drink immediately. If you get into this habit, that’s a cup already crossed off the list before your morning shower! But why lemon water? It balances pH levels, flushes out toxins, assists in weight loss, boost your immune system and aids in digestion.

2. The Permanent Marker Method

For this method, all you need is a water bottle and a permanent marker. Do your best to find a 32-ounce clear reusable (BPA-free) water bottle or the biggest size you can find. Also, I’ve found that I always drink LESS water if it’s out of a straw. This may not be the case for you.

Next, take your permanent marker and write “AM” on the left side of the top portion of the water bottle and “PM” on the right side. Then, write “Refill” at the very bottom. Decide how you want to divide your water bottle. I did 7 AM, 9 AM, 11 AM, and noon on the left side. Once I drink all of the water, which should be around noon, I refill it all the way to the top. For my PM water drinking goals, I chose 1 PM, 3 PM, 5 PM, and 6 PM. I work out in the morning, so I don’t tend to drink water late at night. If you work out at night, you might want to make your last time is around 8 or 9 PM. Your goal is to reach the line by the listed time. For example, when the clock hits 11 AM, I make sure the water line is down to that line marker, and then I’m ready to refill my bottle around noon, everyday. This technique helps you to drink more water throughout the entire day, not just all at once!***Learned this technique from Prevention Magazine’s Certified Fitness Trainer**

3. Fruit-Infused Water

If you need a little flavor in your water to spruce up the taste, try fruit- and herb-infused water! Trust me, you’ll find this way more energizing and refreshing than fake flavored waters, which are typically filled with chemicals. This nutrient-packed drink takes less than five minutes to put together and will have you happily refilling your glass all day.

Credit to Prevention Magazine Article