We all know that drinking water is good for you, but for some reason, it’s really really hard to do. Why is it that I can remember to brush my teeth, put on my mascara, and tie my shoes every day, but I never quite manage to drink a glass of water every few hours?
I’ve only recently started doing research on why water is so important, and I was actually a little surprised by the amount of scientifically-backed information I found. That’s why I’m so excited to partner with Primo® Water on this post to tell my experience with the 30 Day Water Challenge and share some delicious fruit infused water recipes.
Honestly, with the amount of processed foods that we all eat, I’m surprised we’re not constantly thirsty. It’s really amazing that our bodies are able to process such a huge amount of sodium with a normal amount of water!
I’ve always been the kind of person who brushes it off when someone tells me I should drink more water. In the last few years (by necessity), I’ve become more health conscious, but it wasn’t until this month when I turned my full attention towards hydration.
Why We Need to Drink More Water
Ever feel super tired around 2 p.m.? To be honest, there’s been times I felt tired from the moment I woke up. While water wasn’t the only answer for me, it was a big part of the equation. Your body quite literally can’t function properly without water and dehydration (even at a small level of 1.5%) signals to your brain that it should shut down and go to sleep to conserve energy.
Drinking more water is also scientifically proven to help with weight loss, kidney functions (and prevent kidney disease), to prevent and treat headaches, to protect against disease, and to boost your mood.
The 30 Day Water Challenge
After doing some serious research and realizing that I’m really lacking with my hydration, I decided to do the 30 Day Water Challenge. I’m so excited to be sharing the results so far, especially in conjunction with Earth Day this year! April is Earth Month so it was a great time for me to try it out.
I decided to only put one rule in place: I have to drink at least one gallon of water a day for 30 days. Other sites include more rules (e.g. no coffee or sweetened drinks), and I give huge props to anyone who can pull that off, but for me personally, I wanted this to turn into more of a lifestyle, and I know that coffee will always be a part of my lifestyle.
I’m about 20 days in, and I’ve noticed a huge increase in energy. I’ve also noticed that I have to plan a little more when I’m going somewhere that might not have a quick bathroom stop (I took a road trip towards the beginning of the challenge and that was not my brightest idea).
But the biggest thing for me (surprisingly) has been my joints. I hadn’t noticed any joint issues when I would work out before, but I find that I want to exercise much more often now because my joints move smoothly and don’t crack as much. There are less aches and pains (I didn’t even realize I had them until they were gone); this will definitely be enough incentive for me to continue with the challenge.
Drinking Purified Water
I used Primo water for the challenge because I wanted a really high quality of water. Primo water goes through a multi-step purification process that includes reverse osmosis. When they reached out to me, I jumped at the chance since we hadn’t implemented a good system for purified water (we were using a simple fridge filtration system that honestly didn’t taste that much different from the tap water here). Because I grew up with a strong emphasis being placed on purified water, knowing where my H2O comes from and having good tasting water have always been important to me.
Primo is also really earth-friendly, something that’s important to me (especially during Earth Month!). Seriously, if we miss recycling day, we’ll have to save everything for the next week instead of throwing it out. My boyfriend thinks I’m crazy, but I do feel like every little bit matters!
Think about the amount of plastic water bottles you’re saving when you use an in-home dispenser. Each 5-gallon bottle saves up to 1,100 single-use bottles from the landfill or the oceans.
I really wanted an in-home dispenser. After doing my research, I found that having a water dispenser in your kitchen generally results in families drinking 25% more water. Out of sight, out of mind, right? For the challenge, it was definitely easier to have my Primo Deluxe Bottom Loading Water Dispenserstaring right at me every day. Not only is the bottom loading dispenser extremely easy to install, it’s even easier to dispense the water with the touch buttons. Plus, it’s affordable and convenient to refill the water bottle. You can choose to exchange your bottle for a pre-filled bottle, or you can use a simple refill machine at one of the 45,000 locations. Use the map locator to find the one closest to you. I have been taking advantage of the refill option because it’s more cost effective.
Primo was also generous enough to send me a promo code to share with you guys. Click here and use the code WATERGOALS25 for 25% off the dispenser, FREE fast shipping + a FREE coupon that will be mailed for 5-gallon bottle of Primo water (another will be in the box when delivered). Could not recommend this water more! Click here to view a store locator to see where you can buy one!
Fruit Infused Water
To get myself to drink a gallon of water a day, I had to come up with some creative methods. I love fruit (and have also been reading about the health benefits of it) so I did some research and came up with fruit infused water recipes that have specific purposes.
Some fruits will add their flavor to the water immediately, while others may need to soak for a while. I generally don’t let it sit out for more than 2 hours (putting the fruit infused water in the fridge will prevent bacteria growth after that).
Each of these recipes are generally for one glass. If you either add more ingredients or let the mixture sit longer, the flavors will be stronger.
1) Anti-Inflammatory
- 1/4 cup sliced cucumber
- 1/4 cup sliced strawberries
- 1/4 teaspoon grated ginger
Mix all ingredients into a cold glass of water and let sit for 1-2 hours.
2) Detox
- 4-5 slices of cucumber
- 2-3 slices of lemon
- 1/4 cup of pomegranate seeds (fresh or pre-packaged)
Place all ingredients in a glass without water. Gently mash them together with a spoon or fork. Fill the cup with water and stir. Drink immediately or let the mixture sit for 1-2 hours.
3) Weight Loss
- 1/2 orange, sliced
- 1/4 cup blueberries
Place all ingredients in a glass without water. Gently mash them together with a spoon or fork. Fill the cup with water and stir. Drink immediately or let the mixture sit for 1-2 hours.
4) Mood Booster
- 1/4 cup strawberries, chopped
- 4 sprigs of fresh thyme
Fill a cup with the ingredients and add water. Let sit 1-2 hours for best results.
5) Stress Reducer
- 1/4 cup strawberries, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh basil
- 1/2 sliced lime
Fill a cup with the ingredients and gently muddle with a spoon before adding water. Drink immediately or let sit 1-2 hours for best results.
6) Clear Skin
- 5-6 slices of cucumber
- 2-3 slices of lemon
- 4 sprigs of basil
Place the basil in the bottom of a cup and muddle it gently. Add in the cucumber and lemon slices. Fill the cup with water and drink immediately or let sit for 1 hour.
7) Immune Boost
- 2-3 slices of pear
- 1/4 cup fresh raspberries
- 4 sprigs fresh rosemary
Fill a cup with the ingredients and gently muddle with a spoon before adding water. Drink immediately or let sit 1-2 hours for best results.
Other posts you might like:How to Make Lavender Simple Syrup| A Delicious Midday Smoothie
Good luck with your own water challenge! Don’t forget to use the code WATERGOALS25 for 25% off the Primo dispenser, FREE fast shipping + a FREE coupon that will be mailed for 5-gallon bottle of Primo water (another will be in the box when delivered). This is a great option if you’re looking for purified water!
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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Primo. All opinions, thoughts, experiences, and recipes are 100% my own.
