9 Ways To Make Your Water More Exciting

How many cups of water do you drink a day? We asked 10 nutritionists how much water you should actually be drinking, and though the exact amount recommended varies depending on your lifestyle, the general answer is generally the more, the better.

Certified nutritionist Brad Davidson recommends people drink half their body weight in water per day, because increasing water intake can boost your metabolism by as much as seven percent. Rebecca Lewis, registered dietitian for HelloFresh, suggests eight glasses a day. "To put it into perspective, you need to drink four 16-ounce glasses of water or two and a half large water bottles per day," Lewis explains. "That may seem like a lot of water but it's worth it for your overall health, energy levels, and waistline, especially while exercising. Often times when you feel very hungry, it's really just your body sending a signal that you are dehydrated!"

Despite these recommendations, studies show that up to three-fourths of Americans drink well below the suggested amount. If you aren't particularly fond of the taste of water, we get it — it's not that exciting. Nonetheless, dehydration can lead to fatigue, headaches, and joint pain, among other health complications. If you aren't drinking enough water, it's not too late to start.

If you're concerned that you don't like the taste of water enough to get your daily dose of H20, there are strategies that can help you stay hydrated. Investing in a reusable water bottle, infusing your water with fruit, or tallying how much you consume are some quick examples of how you can make your water more enjoyable to drink as well as how to drink more of it.

Surprisingly, the smallest steps can make the biggest difference. Read on for nine ways you can make water more exciting and easy to enjoy.

Instead of enjoying still water alone, mix half of your glass with sparkling water. This will enhance your water, along with reducing the carbonated qualities of straight sparkling water.

Not only will this tactic make drinking water more exciting, but it's also better for the environment. Carrying a water bottle around all day will act as a constant reminder to keep on drinking. With a reusable water bottle in your hand, you'll quickly run out of excuses as to why you're not hydrating. While searching for the perfect reusable water bottle for your lifestyle, it's helpful to considerer the insolation, capacity, and material of each brand. Here's a roundup of some of our favorite options.

Instead of infusing your fruits and herbs into your water, try making ice cubes with them.  Next time you go to make another set of ice cubes to store away in your freezer, add some small berries and mint leaves into the tray. You can use these ice cubes in water to make it a more exciting beverage, but you can also use them to add flavor to other liquids, too.

Nothing will hydrate you like plain water, but if you need to add a little oomph to your cup, flavored waters are the next best thing. While shopping for a flavored water or a non-traditional water like charcoal or coconut to try, be sure to check the nutrition labels. Many pre-packaged flavored waters have added sugars that will actually dehydrate you. Coconut water from an actual coconut is probably your safest option.