Five Great Reasons to Up Your Water Intake – Tips From The Photographer
Many people only think about drinking enough water during the hot summer months but I want to share some reasons it is important to drink enough water all year long. I have heard from many people that water is bland and they want something with flavor. At the end of this post you will find four recipes to up the flavor without adding sugar to make it tasty without the additional calories. 
- Losing weight. If you are trying to lose weight upping your water intake could help. Studies have found that drinking water before a meal can be beneficial. The extra water helps us eat less by making us feel full.
- Preventing headaches naturally. Going too long without enough water has been found to be a migraine trigger. Staying hydrated can help ward off headaches but if you do get one, drinking two to four cups of water can help reduce or eliminate the pain if it is triggered by dehydration.
- Proper hydration keeps your kidneys working properly. Our kidneys do a lot of work removing waste from our bodies. They also help control our blood pressure and balance fluids. All this work requires you to stay properly hydrated so the kidneys can do their job!
- Soda water makes healthier cocktails. Try seltzer water and fresh fruit instead of your normal sugary mixers to make a delicious, better-for-you drink. Not only are their less calories but it can also help prevent dehydration.
- Want a way to help take the edge off of hangovers? Drinking alcohol causes dehydration and with the warm weather parties the heat can add to that problem. The combination can lead to a doozy of a hangover or worse. Drinking a glass of water with each alcoholic drink you sip is one way to offset the dehydration and avoid some of that day-after misery.
Recipes
Strawberry, Blueberry, Lemon Balm (pictured)
1/2 cup strawberries, sliced
1/2 cup blueberries
1 Tbsp fresh lemon balm leaves
Minty Cucumber Lime
1/2 cucumber, sliced
1/2 lime, sliced
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
Strawberry-Lemon with Basil
1/2 cup sliced strawberries
1/2 lemon, sliced
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
Watermelon Mint
1 cup cubed watermelon
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
Pineapple-Orange with Ginger
1/2 cup cubed pineapple
1/2 orange, sliced
1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
You’ll Need:
1-quart jars
Water
Wooden spoon
Agave or another sweetener (optional)
Directions:
- Choose which recipe you’re making—or come up with your own combination—and gather all of the ingredients.
- Place fruit, herbs, and/or spices in the bottom of a jar and muddle with a wooden spoon. (That basically means mash up fruit to release some of the flavor-filled juices.)
- Fill jar with water and give it a taste. (You can also fill jar with seltzer water for a fizzy treat.) If you’d like something a bit sweeter, add some agave and mix until dissolved.
- Enjoy as-is or refrigerate overnight for maximum flavor.
