[trip style = any]
{Editor's Note: It's Travel Beauty Month, and each week we're doing a different giveaway! This week we're giving away Travalo, a pocket-sized, refillable, porta-perfume atomizer---perfect for any trip style. Details here!}
Water; the essential travel companion and ultimate beauty product.
We know we should drink it. We’ve heard that our bodies contain a large amount of it and that it’s vital for proper functioning. We’ve also heard that some of our fave bevvies (coffee, tea, alcohol, sodas and juice) either act as diuretics, causing us to lose water, or are so full of sugar and calories that our waistlines suffer. What else do we know? Hmmm...that our pee is more yellow when we’re dehydrated? Yup!
So why do most people not even come close to drinking the recommended 8-10 glasses of water per day?
Excuses & Solutions Healthy on the Road gathered some of your top reasons for not drinking enough water, and came up with some simple solutions to help you drink up. Doing so will help you have happy and healthy travels with glowing skin and loads of energy!
I Don’t Really Like Water If you really don’t like plain water, try diluting it with a little pure fruit juice or squeezing some lemon or lime into it. Perhaps hot water would be more appealing to you? Unfortunately, there is no way around it; the best way to drink enough and stay hydrated is to drink plain water. Sparkling waters can be a great alternative too, provided they don’t contain lots of sugar or sodium.
I Prefer Juice Juice is usually full of sugar and/or calories. Instead of juice, you’re better off having a glass of water and a piece of fruit.
I Prefer Sports Energy Drinks Sports drinks deliver calories you don’t need unless you’re a serious athlete or travelling in an extremely hot and dry climate (even so, water should be you primary beverage).
Don’t Coffee And Tea Count? As a general rule, caffeinated drinks should not count as part of your daily fluid intake requirement (though they will contribute some). Why not try drinking a glass of water every time you drink a cup of tea or coffee!
I Don’t Like Buying Bottled Water And Tap Water Tastes Funny Here in Vancouver, we are lucky to have really good tap water, but if you’re still not into it, invest in a water filter (doesn’t need to be anything fancy) and fill up your own water bottle before leaving home. If you’re traveling, bottled water is often your safest option, but keep in mind, many parts of the world lack efficient recycling systems, sending thousands upon thousands of these bottles to landfills or poorer areas away from the tourist eye. One way you can help is by purchasing a bigger, foldable, packing-friendly bottle of water to fill up before heading to the beach or to whatever adventure awaits.
I Just Forget! This is probably the most common reason out there. Here are some tips:
- Drink water throughout the day rather than when you're dying of thirst. Carry a bottle of water in your bag at all times to make this possible. I make it a habit before I leave the house to fill my water bottle; if I don't, I feel like I've forgotten my keys!
- Drink 1-2 glasses of water first thing in the morning...your body is in serious need of re-hydration after sleeping. This will also help wake up your digestive system.
- If you are cold, try drinking warm water instead of coffee or tea.
- Drink a glass of water before and during each meal. As an added bonus, this will help you feel fuller between meals.
- Eat plenty of fruit and veggies as these have high water content and will contribute to your daily water intake.
How Can I Tell If I’m Dehydrated? Well, there’s always the good’ol pee test! Many people are unaware that they're dehydrated; they've simply become used to not feeling 100%. Symptoms of dehydration include: headaches, loss of concentration and tiredness, dry eyes and skin. From a vanity point of view, water is the ultimate beauty product: hydrated skin looks much younger, brighter and plumper. What's the difference between a plum and a prune? Water.
{When she’s not training clients or being trained by her dog Zuzu, Leah writes Healthy on the Road, published the first Thursday of every month.}
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[photos sourced from web, graphic by @tripstyler]