Are you drinking enough water? It’s important to stay hydrated all the time, but especially in the summer when it’s hot outside! I’m always trying to get my family members to drink more water, and sometimes it can be a challenge.

Why is it so important to drink water? According to the American Heart Association, your heart pumps blood throughout the body more easily if it’s well-hydrated. Water also helps your muscles work more efficiently. You can start to feel dizzy, get a headache, or feel more tired when your body is dehydrated. Not having enough water in your body can also lead to serious illnesses like heatstroke.

You’ve probably heard some variation of “drink eight glasses of water every day.” Everyone is different and the amount of hydration you need depends on a lot of factors, such as your activity level, your environment, and your overall health.

According to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, a good rule of thumb for an adequate fluid intake is 15.5 cups daily for men and 11.5 cups daily for women.

Do you drink water regularly? Share your tips for staying hydrated in the comments, I’d love to hear from you!

How to Drink More Water

We all know we need to drink water, but sometimes it’s really hard! Maybe you like more variety in your beverages and you get bored with plain old water. Or maybe your lifestyle or job makes it more challenging to drink enough water during the day.

I recently cut back on my soda in an effort to drink more water, and here are some things that have helped me:

1. Know your habits. For example, I drink more water throughout the day if I have a straw, instead of drinking from a cup or a chug-style bottle. You might prefer something else, but the key is to know your own habits and what works best for you.

2. Invest in a fun water bottle or cup! Since I prefer straws, I found a couple water bottles that have straws attached to them. I decorate my water bottles with stickers from places I’ve traveled to, and it brings back good memories whenever I look at them.

3. Ice or no ice? Everyone has a different preference- some people like room-temperature water, and others (like me!) want ice-cold beverages with lots of ice. If ice is important to you, make sure you have a working ice maker at home or another way to keep ice stocked. Otherwise, you won’t drink as much water.

4. Keep your water bottle or cup with you all the time. You can’t drink water if you don’t have access to it. I constantly have a water bottle with me, and it’s really helped increase my intake. And, since my kids often don’t bring their own bottle, it’s easier to make sure they’re staying hydrated as well.

5. Add a flavor. If you don’t like drinking plain water, there are plenty of ways to add some flavor to it! You can easily add a splash of lemon or lime. Sometimes I’ll keep a pitcher of water in the fridge with a variety of fruits and herbs in it- there are so many delicious combinations of infused water! You can find some great recipes from Taste of Home if you want to try this. There are also a lot of flavorings you can buy at the store to add to your water.

6. Try tracking your water intake. Are you motived by challenges? I use an app on my phone to track how much water I drink every day, and after meeting my goal for several days in a row, I want to keep the streak going!

Tips for Panel Members

Have any of these tips motivated you to drink more water? I hope so! Remember to scan any purchases you make on your journey to better hydration, such as:

– Water bottles or cups
– Pre-packaged bottled water
– Flavor enhancers
– Fruits and herbs for infused water
– Reusable straws

And don’t forget, our Summer Scratch and Match promotion is live! Be sure to scan a shopping trip each week to earn a game play, and then return to NCPMobile or the panel member website each week to play. Good luck!

Regards,
Taylor


Blog comment reminder: If you have a panel-related issue that you need assistance with such as a problem with scanning or your rewards, please contact our Panel Support Center directly and they will be happy to assist you! You can reach them at 1-800-962-6700 or email them at [email protected]. You can send a message from NCP’s Facebook page. Please don’t enter panel-related issues or share any personal panel membership information in the blog comment section. Any issues will be addressed faster if you contact our support center directly. Thank you so much!

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