Ever heard of Dry January? This term refers to a movement that encourages people not to drink alcohol during the year’s first month. In addition to taking a break from alcohol, this challenge encourages them to reflect on their drinking habits and things they can change to improve their overall health.
However, going dry for an entire month can be challenging for many of us, especially those who go out often and are constantly surrounded by people drinking alcoholic beverages in restaurants, bars, and clubs. When exposed very often to our peers enjoying their drinks, it may not be long before they long for a cold beer or a nice glass of red wine.
Many try to fight this urge by having alternative drinks. However, these are usually beverages that contain a lot of sugar or caffeine and may have several other adverse effects on your health. So what if the answer to the dry January blues was the most natural and essential beverage of all time? Let’s dig into why water can be the perfect replacement for alcoholic drinks.
The Many Benefits of Adequate Hydration
While many may ignore it, alcohol has a diuretic effect that causes fluid loss in urine and leads to dehydration over time. In contrast, drinking water regularly helps our body replace the fluids it loses during the day, thus reducing fatigue, lowering stress, and increasing our energy levels.
Good hydration also supports digestion by ensuring that food moves through the gut efficiently and that the waste is quickly removed to avoid constipation and other annoying digestive issues.
Finally, adequate hydration boosts cognitive performance, thus allowing you to think more clearly, make decisions faster and focus on tasks more effectively, all of which will lead to increased productivity in your daily work.
You Have a Lot of Tasty Water Options These Days
Many people don’t drink as much water as they should because they feel it doesn’t taste as good as other beverages. However, organic flavored water (AKA infused water) allows you to benefit from all the good properties of water without sacrificing taste. It’s an excellent alternative to cocktails, wine, beer, sodas, and other unhealthy beverages.
With infused water, you don’t have to stick to just one option, as you can choose from various fruits and herbs, depending on your preferences. Citrus flavors such as oranges and limes are popular, as are berries like strawberries or blueberries. Mint, basil, and lavender are other common herbs used for infusing water with flavor. You can also mix and match different fruits and spices to create unique infusion combinations.
So, if you’re looking for an alternative to your favorite alcoholic beverage this Dry January, why not give infused water a try? It will help keep you hydrated and give your body the nutrients it needs to stay healthy. Plus, you get the bonus of great-tasting drinks without having to worry about added calories or a hangover.
Drinking Water Helps You Save Money
Alcohol can weigh heavily on a person’s monthly budget without providing objective benefits. Substituting alcohol with water can also be a great way to save money. Regular or infused water is cheaper than beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages. In some cases, they may even be free.
For example, the average price of a pint (or 500 ml) of beer in Los Angeles is $8. However, a 20-ounce (or 590-ml) bottle of water in the same city costs approximately $1.5. Let’s imagine you go out eight nights a month with friends and only drink on these occasions. Drinking just two pints a night would cost you $128 a month. However, substituting each pint of beer with 20 ounces of water would cost you only $24. You’d save more than $100 a month, which you can add to your investment account, get some new clothes, spend on healthy entertainment activities or buy a gift for a loved person.
Water Increases the Quality of Your Sleep
Among the many other overlooked benefits of water, there is also the fact that it increases your sleep quality. When we stay hydrated during the day, our body can continue to regulate its temperature at night. This is a critical function because it helps us maintain healthy sleep cycles, allowing us to feel more energized and refreshed when we wake up.
A regular intake of water can also help alleviate nighttime headaches or dizziness. If you often wake up in the middle of the night, consider drinking a few glasses of water before. It may help you get a more restful sleep.
Finally, proper hydration has also been linked with improved concentration and brain activity during the day. When your brain is properly nourished with fluids, it can perform better and leave you feeling ready for bed when you hit the sheets.
Drinking More Water Reduces the Risk of Developing Diseases
Increasing the amount of water you drink is also an effective way to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Proper hydration helps ensure that your body has enough fluid to function correctly and can even help with weight loss.
Moreover, it’s great for flushing toxins from the body and maintaining healthy electrolyte levels. Studies have also shown that drinking more water can lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reduce inflammation, and improve kidney health. By ensuring you get enough fluids throughout the day, you can enjoy improved overall health over time.
Water Has a Positive Effect on Your Mood
Finally, drinking water can have a positive effect on your mood and your overall emotional state The next time you feel down emotionally, try drinking a glass of water to cheer yourself up.
In some studies, researchers have also found that slight dehydration can worsen the symptoms of depression and bipolar disorder. Making sure you are drinking enough fluid each day is an important preventive measure against mental health struggles as it helps keep your mind sharp and focused, in addition to having all the other physical benefits listed before.
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