KirbyAndersen.com

One of the first improvements to make for better health is to drink plenty of pure water. Even if you know you should drink more water, there’s a good chance you aren’t drinking as much as you think.

The rule of thumb you’ll most likely hear is eight 8-ounce glasses each day. That’s probably better than what most are doing yet that guideline isn’t always accurate. The amount of water we need is more dependent on individual weight and lifestyle. A better rule of thumb for how many ounces you need a day is your weight divided by 2; e.g., a 160 lb. person should drink 80 ounces a day.

For most of us, that will take some intentional effort. It certainly did for me. Here are some of the things I do to make sure I hit my personal goal of 85 ounces of water each day:

1. I drink a 10-ounce glass of water first thing when I get up in the morning. Additionally, I warm it slightly in the microwave and squeeze a slice of lemon in it - good for the digestive system.
2. After a cup of coffee and during my morning exercise, I’ll drink another 12-16 ounces of water before breakfast. (By the way, I don’t drink much water, if any, during meals - also for better digestion.)
3. To make sure I would drink enough water at the office during the day, I purchased a 28-ounce carafe. I keep it on my desk and drink a carafe-full throughout the morning and another in the afternoon.
4. Throughout the evening at home, I’ll drink another couple of 10-ounce glasses.

If I’m traveling away from my home or office, I have a couple of glass water bottles I take with me. If I’m going to spend a couple of hours at a coffee shop, I order a glass of water with each cup of coffee. If you’re a soda drinker, substitute a glass of water for a soda. If you prefer, squeeze a slice of lemon in the water for taste. Avoid water artificially flavored or sweetened.

For more information on the benefits of drinking a sufficient amount of pure water, check out Don Colbert’s book, The Seven Pillars of Health. The first pillar is, not surprisingly, water.

Building a habit of drinking plenty of water is essential for better health. But not all water is equal - or healthy. I’ll discuss that more soon. For now, go drink a glass of water.