6 Reasons To Hydrate (Plus the Best Infused Water)

Well guys, we’re over half way through April, and that means we are approaching warmer weather. Yesss! We are getting closer to bikini season and chilled wine spritzers. Too bad we have to adult from 9-5. For those 8 hours, we will just have to stick to business clothes and non-alcoholic beverages. Boo. 

Speaking of non-alcoholic beverages….hydration. This one is a biggy for your metabolism.

One of my New Year’s resolutions was to drink more water, and to pay more attention to my hydration. Sometimes water just gets BORING though. Sometimes I just forget to hydrate. It’s always a battle to keep my body fully hydrated.  Anyone else feel this way? 

Before we dive into the infused water recipes, let’s talk about water in general. My mom used to use water to solve all my problems as a kid. Have a headache? Drink water. Feeling tired? Drink water. Sick to your stomach? Drink water. As a kid, I would roll my eyes. But now I know she was totally right. Yes mom, you were right. 

Staying hydrated is super important, but I bet you don’t know all the reasons why. Here’s 6:

1. Higher Metabolism

You may not know this, but drinking water actually boosts your metabolism. How much? Try a boost of up to 30%. This means that you actually burn more calories sitting at your desk or binge watching The Office (love that show) if you’re hydrated. It makes a huge difference! And if you’re wanting to lose weight, hydration is a great place to start. Try drinking a glass of water as part of your morning routine to #boostthatmetabolism. 

2. Prevents Fatigue

Staying hydrated keeps you alert. Period. It’s been shown to increase efficiency and productivity at work, and keeps you focused. 

3. Better Bowel Movements

No one likes being constipated. You have to drink fluids if you want a healthy gut. Water keeps things going, especially if you’re eating a good amount of fiber, too. Water and fiber go hand-in-hand. Click here for 5 reasons you need more fiber. 

4. Less Headaches

 This one kind of speaks for itself. It’s been shown that staying hydrated keeps the head aches away. And turns out my mom was right, if you have a headache, it could mean you’re dehydrated. Drink up. 

5. Appetite Control

Not everyone knows this, but the thirst and the hunger centers of your brain are very similar. Sometimes, your body can’t tell if you’re thirsty or if you’re hungry. When you’re dehydrated, your brain may tell your stomach it’s hungry, even after you’ve just eaten (thanks a lot, brain). Pay attention to how you’re feeling. If you just ate and your stomach is still demanding food, reach for your water bottle instead. You may need to hydrate.

6. Work Out Recovery

If you’re working up a sweat, you absolutely must re-hydrate. It prevents muscle aches, helps you regulate your body temperature and helps nutrients circulate in your blood. You will feel so much better and make more gains if you re-hydrate immediately after you work out. Just do it. 

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Now that you’re totally into staying hydrated, let’s get to the good stuff. Infused water. It’s awesome. 

Infused water is one of my favorites. It’s not hard, it’s not complicated, and it’s definitely not time consuming. At least when you do it my way…tee hee. 

The secret? A water infuser pitcher. 

Last year, when I got married, a friend of mine gave us an water infuser pitcher. Let me tell you, I L-O-V-E it. I put fruit in it over night and fill it with water, and in the morning I have a pitcher filled with fruity goodness that makes me actually want to drink water.  It’s seriously soooo great.

If you don’t have a water infuser pitcher, I highly recommend this one. It’s the exact one that I have. Not only does it come with the insert that you place fruit in, it comes with a chilling insert AND a cold brew tea insert too! Plus, if you have a water infuser pitcher, you can make your water in BATCHES. No need to worry about throwing together some magic fruit water every morning. You don’t need anything else to do in the mornings, anyway. Hello convenience. 

Now, to the good stuff. Here are my favorite infused water combos:

1. Banana Infused Water

This may sound weird, but trust me, it’s great. Chop up 2-3 bananas that are on the verge of going bad. Fill the infuser pitcher with water and bananas, and refrigerate overnight. There may be a few banana floaties in the water, but the taste is worth it. 

2. Pineapple Mint Infused Water

SOOO delicious. Chop up fresh pineapple (1/3 of a pineapple will do). Fill infuser pitcher center with pineapple and several mint leaves. Top the pitcher off with water, and refrigerate overnight. You won’t be able to resist drinking water with this combo. 

3. Mango Lime Infused Water

This one is super fruity and reminds me of summer time. Chop up a fresh mango (or use frozen chunks), and slice up a lime. Fill infuser pitcher with the fruit and water. Refrigerate overnight. Drink up. 

Carry around your infused water like a boss, and drink on it all day. Need a water bottle that will actually keep it cold for you all day? Try this one. Hydro Flasks are heavy duty and come in like, so many colors. Plus they’re a local Oregon company. Check it out!

What are your favorite ways to get your hydration in? Favorite infused water combos? 

xoxo Megan