I read somewhere (or probably more accurately, learned while mindlessly scrolling) most of us are. As someone who played sports in the 90s and relied solely on weak-ass sips from a drinking fountain, I like to think of myself as an expert on chronic dehydration. Three decades later, I am basically an ambulating water balloon with a wig and finger nails.
Plain water is boring. However, I suppose it’s necessary for life, so drink it we must. Hence, I trick myself into drinking more water by making it feel like a treat.
For the last three years, I’ve started every morning with a 32-ounce mason jar filled with a concoction of powders that may or may not enhance my health. Look, I don’t purport to “do my own research.” I’m smart enough to understand that being able to do you own research requires actual education and not just, say, a TikTok account.
What I do know for sure is that drinking more water is good. When I add things that make it taste better and allegedly keep me more hydrated, I’m way more likely to drink it. It’s low-stakes wellness, even if it may mean I’m creating nothing more than expensive pee.
This hydration cocktail plays a part in my delightful morning ritual. I’m adjacent to this jar of agua, plus a cup of coffee, for the first two hours of every day. I sip, not chug. It’s not a competition. I just need to finish it before I leave the house in the morning, which is when I switch to a cute and easy-to-drink from Owala water bottle with charming stickers on it. Boring ol’ water, presented in a less boring way.
My routine has evolved over the years, but here’s what I’m drinking now.
This is my favorite electrolyte powder. It’s salty (on purpose), sugar-free (with no weird aftertaste) and includes magnesium, potassium and sodium. That’s the hydration father/son/holy ghost! I know what you’re thinking— are we supposed to be ingesting more salt? According to the people who own the LMNT company, we are! And they aren’t biased at all.
But also my PCP, a real doctor with a real degree from a real university, encouraged me to include more salt in my diet due to my low blood pressure, intermittent dizzy spells, and its hydration factor. It’s not cheap (between $1.13-$1.50 per stick, depending on where and how you order), but I drink way less alcohol than I used to, so I guess this is my wine replacement budget.
I love the watermelon, lemonade (pink or regular), citrus and raspberry flavors. If you’re interested in trying some, Amazon sells a sample pack. You can also set up a subscription from Amazon for a discount boxes (about 10% off). However! I recently learned you can get a subscription directly from LMNT, where when you buy three boxes, you get the forth free. I know I will eventually go through all of that, so that’s what I do.
I will also drink an extra LMNT packet on a hot day, or if I’m sauna-ing, or sick, or just feel like it. I personally think the ideal water-to-packet ratio requires at least 24 ounces, otherwise it feels like you’re drinking ocean with a hint of raspberry.
A few years ago, I had a colon-related health scare. Since colon cancer rates are on the rise for young folks, I got a colonoscopy (and if you’re reading this and are 45+, have a family history, or weird stuff going on with your butt, you should too). Everything turned out okay, butttt my doctor recommended adding a good fiber supplement to my diet, and suggested Regular Girl (again, I subscribe to this so I never run out).
Cute packaging. Tasteless. Boys and girls and anyone in between are allowed to drink to even though “girl” is right there in the name. It’s easy to add to my already delicious morning water, and provides 6g of fiber. Women should aim for at least 25g daily, and men at least 30g, so this gets you well on your way.
Did you know creatine isn’t just for those beefy, pimply boys lifting weights in the high school gym? (That wasn’t just my high school, right?) Apparently it’s for anyone looking to build muscle and improve cognition, which is everyone.
I trust economist Emily Oster to “do my own research” for me, and she says that creatine in fact does helps build muscle/aid in recovery for those who lift weights (you do have to do the weight lifting for it to be effective; sorry, I don’t make the rules). Plus, there are promising studies for creatine aiding in the memory/cognition AND may help those with Alzheimer’s. Emily also says there’s not really a downside to creatine, so bombs away!
I simply add a flavorless scoop of the stuff to my morning water, and have been doing so for about six months. I’m feeling pretty strong these days AND don’t feel as sore after workouts as I expect to, which is a little anecdotal encouragement to keep me taking it.
All in, this morning ritual costs about $2.50/day.
That adds up quickly, but it’s less than a beer or glass of wine or a coffee or a gallon of gas, and makes me feel morally superior to starting their day with plain water in a glass.
Plus, it’s a ritual I look forward to, which makes me sound like exactly who I am: a 43-year-old woman.
Do you have a daily “healthy” ritual? Any other tricks to drinking more water? Share with the rest of us!
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