All Things Hydration: Why the Water We Drink Matters (& How to Drink MORE of It!)

Living in a well-developed country doesn’t mean the water you have common access to is necessarily “clean”. In fact, it’s actually quite hard to find any that’s been untouched by chemical processing of one form or another!

Though tap water in most of the United States is considered “safe to drink”, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) standards haven’t been touched in over 20 years. And in that time, our world has only revealed more bacteria/viruses, brought further exposure to environmental toxins, and created more chemicals to “sanitize” our environment. It’s actually estimated that 21 million Americans drink water that violates the U.S. health standards.

But let’s actually think about it: where does our water come from?

Our water typically comes from one of two sources: either from ground water sources in well systems, or surface water sources like streams, rivers, lakes or reservoirs. In either case, our water faces many areas of contamination through industrial wastewater discharge, landfill runoff, pesticides or disinfectant from fieldworkers, etc. — all showing a major compound effect over the years.

With over 60% of our bodies being made of this very compound, it is vital that we are getting enough of it regularly!

But how can we be sure that the water we ARE drinking, cooking with, bathing in, etc… is clean?

Let me tell ya — though filtration systems seem to be fairly universal, they are far from being designed the same. It is crucial that you find one that doesn't just simply filter your water, but actually purifies it as it passes through.

I had been eyeing a Berkey Water System for yeeeeears and finally committed to buying one this past fall. I love this brand because they are proven to truly purify your water by removing all the nasty crap — like bacteria, viruses, parasites, and sedimentary minerals, while still keeping essential (& beneficial) ionic minerals needed for hydration!

It’s one way that I can ensure I get pure nourishment from the water I’m drinking, without the added (LITERAL) garbage floating in it.

But hey — I am 100% aware that drinking clean water is only half the battle. It’s also important that you’re drinking ENOUGH water, too!

The good news?? Focusing on your overall health by implementing these daily habits — and improving your hydration — can be one of the eeeeasiest lifestyle medicine practices to jump into. Plus it helps to get your water intake back on track!

It’s about finding a ritual that works for YOU and watching your daily determination turn into a simple routine!

Here are my 4 water-consumption hacks that have helped me get into a daily practice of keeping my body hydrated!

01 | Drinking roughly 20 fl oz of water first thing in the morning

We often wake in the morning already dehydrated because our body has been regenerating, replenishing, and doing detox work during our sleep cycles throughout the night. Starting your day off right with a big glass of water not only helps jump-start the day with your water intake, but it actually helps your body flush out all the toxins gathered whiled you slept!

02 | Adding chia seeds, a pinch of mineral-rich sea salt, and lemon essential oil to enhance hydration

This is an odd water concoction that a handful of my fave crunchy bloggers have shared about and I've adopted myself over the past year and a half. First thing: chia seeds. MY GOSH are these 'lil guys nuggets of gold. High in fiber, protein, magnesium, and other nutrients, and absorb an estimated 10x their weight in water, adding 1 tsp. of chia seeds to your water will make you feel fuller, help move things along (wink wink...), and even help prolong hydration since they absorb so much water that you body will break down more slowly!

Adding a pinch of mineral-rich sea salt to your water allows the body to absorb necessary minerals and electrolytes which also helps with overall hydration within your systems.

Lastly, I add a drop or two of Lemon essential oil to help aid my body in the process of flushing out toxins and adds a fun flavor to my glass! Lemon EO is known for its ability to help enhance overall detox within our body and restoring the liver.

03 | Drinking AT LEAST half your body weight in water each day

As for the rest of the day... "just keep sipping". The general rule of thumb is to have about half your body weight (in ounces) of water each day. (I always try to aim for 100 oz). We urinate (or eliminate through stool) a high amount of our body's toxins, so it's essential to keep liquids moving throughout your body to encourage this continuous detox.

04 | Set a reminder to drink water every hour

Okay, I didn't say these practices were brain-busters! ;)

Whew! Who knew one could get so excited and passionate about DRINKING WATER?! I'd love to see how you start implementing your own #hydrationhacks into your everyday!