Treat fluid like medicine. You make it a point to take your meds, so do the same with fluids, Archbald-Pannone says. Set a timer to remind you to sip. Richards recommends aiming for half your body weight in ounces each day. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, you should get 75 ounces.
Find a drink you enjoy. Liven up water with lime, lemon, or cucumber, or bubbles (seltzer or club soda). Milk, juice, and smoothies count, too, but if cold drinks don’t appeal, try coffee, tea, soup, or broth. Just limit caffeine to 400 mg a day or less; more than that may have a diuretic effect.
“Eat” your water. Water in produce contributes to your daily intake. For example, you’ll get between ½ and ¾ cup from a medium apple or pear, half a grapefruit, a large orange, or 1 cup of cauliflower or cubed winter squash.
Check your meds. Some drugs, including diuretics, laxatives, and diabetes medications, can contribute to dehydration. Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether the prescriptions you’re taking will affect hydration and whether you should up your fluids.
Add moisture to the air. A humidifier can help your body retain more water—and can ease dry skin and chapped lips, too. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends keeping humidity at 30 to 50 percent in the winter. Plus, it makes the air feel warmer, so you can lower the thermostat.
