Well, water makes up about 60 percent of the body, says New York City–based Jaclyn London, RD, head of nutrition and wellness at WW, and data from the U.S. Geological Survey, a government agency, backs that up. Because it’s such a big part of your makeup, water is involved in a multitude of functions, says Ryan Andrews, RD, principle nutritionist and adviser at Precision Nutrition in Norwalk, Connecticut. For example, water dissolves and transports other substances around the body, assists in metabolic reactions, lubricates tissues like eyes and joints, regulates body temperature, provides minerals, and acts as a building material for cells. So it makes sense that you need so much of it. “Without adequate hydration, you experience dehydration. It can be mild or severe, with symptoms ranging from dry mouth, headache, dizziness, and fatigue to heat stress, sunken eyes, low blood pressure, rapid heart rate, and delirium,” Andrews says. RELATED: 6 Unusual Signs of Dehydration You Should Know About That’s the bad news — the good news is what adequate hydration can do for you. “Growing research suggests good hydration can help with everything from joint health and workout stamina to mood and mental focus,” London says. A review published in January 2019 in Nutrients outlines some of these findings. “And in practice, I’ve found that a little self-check-in of ‘have I had enough to drink today?’ can be a game changer for so many clients who are often mistaking hunger and thirst.” And that’s how drinking enough can factor into weight loss goals. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommends that men consume 125 ounces of total fluid from beverages and food, and that women consume 91 ounces of fluid. That fluid can come from beverages including water, as well as water-rich foods like produce. However, the reality is we’re skimping on plain water. “The fluids we consume have really become a vehicle for other ingredients, like sugar and caffeine,” Andrews says. And that, unfortunately, can make plain water seem, well, too plain. Add that to a busy lifestyle and you may forget — or not be motivated — to drink H2O. It’s like when you’ve had a nonstop day and realize in the evening that you drank barely a cup, London says. “This is especially true now that routines have been upended and our homes have become de facto schools, workplaces, and gyms. It can be so easy to get caught up in daily life and responsibilities and neglect hydration,” she adds. RELATED: Hydration Calculator: How Much Water Do You Need to Drink a Day? There’s even a type of water drinker called a “low drinker”: a healthy adult who has adequate water access but who doesn’t habitually drink enough, notes an article published in June 2019 in the Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism. These people aren’t dehydrated, but their bodies are actively preserving the water they do have by suppressing normal functions like urination. They also aren’t extra thirsty, so they don’t have that internal cue to drink more water. If that’s you, you might need a little help. Luckily, there are numerous options to help you meet your water quota, from hydration trackers and smart water bottles that connect to and monitor consumption to bottles that infuse flavors into your water and handy apps. Of course, you don’t need all of them. Andrews suggests exploring those that interest you and trying the one that fits easiest into your life. Here are 13 great, innovative options at a variety of price points that make such a basic task — drinking water — doable and a bit more fun.
1. H2OPal Converts Most Bottles Into a Smart Water Bottle
The benefit of tracking your intake is that you’ll know if you’re falling short and can adjust accordingly earlier in the day, rather than feeling pressured to glug a bunch of water that night. H2OPal is a smart hydration-tracking device that comes with a water bottle. You can also take off the tracker at the base and attach it to a water bottle you already have (as long as the base is about three inches), boosting its versatility. This will monitor how much you drink and reminds you when to take a sip through the app. Buy H2OPal, $99, H2OPal.com. RELATED: 6 Smart Tips for Staying Hydrated Throughout the Day
2. HidrateSpark STEEL Keeps Drinks Cold and You On Track
Buy HidrateSpark STEEL (17-ounce bottle), $59.99, HidrateSpark.com.
3. WaterMinder App Keeps Reminders Simple
Buy WaterMinder, $4.99, WaterMinder.com. RELATED: What Is ‘Raw’ Water, and Should You Drink It?
4. Madefor Works on Your Habits, so Sipping Becomes Automatic
Buy Madefor (Introductions Kit), $48, GetMadefor.com.
5. LifeFuels Effortlessly Adds Nutrients and Flavor to Water
If plain water is just too plain for you, the bottle from LifeFuels has built-in flavor pods in the bottom. You set the flavor and how much should be added to the water, and then you’ll get a tasty beverage at the push of a button. Each pod can be recycled through the company’s program, alleviating the potential environmental burden of one-time-use plastic. Flavor and nutrient pods are geared toward goals. For instance, the fruit-flavored “Defend Pack” pods contain multivitamins, antioxidants, and immune-supporting nutrients vitamin C and zinc. The price below reflects the bottle and three flavor pods (covering 90 beverages). A flavor pod subscription costs up to $29 per month. Buy LifeFuels, $99.99, LifeFuels.com.
6. LARQ Self-Cleaning Bottle Gives Pure Water in Every Sip
To drink clean water wherever you are, the LARQ Bottle is built with UV-C LED light, which the company says eliminates nearly 100 percent of contaminants from water. Every two hours, the bottle turns on that self-cleaning function, making its contents safer and tastier. Insulated, it keeps water cold for 24 hours or hot for 12 hours. It is a bit heavy, so if you prefer a lighter lift, the company also offers a single-walled, self-cleaning stainless steel bottle; it doesn’t keep beverages at a desired temperature but may be better if you have an on-the-go lifestyle. Buy LARQ Bottle (17-ounce bottle), $95, LiveLARQ.com. RELATED: 12 Science-Backed Ways to Help You Avoid Dehydration
7. Uncommon Goods Bluetooth Speaker and Water Bottle Brings the Entertainment
Buy Uncommon Goods Bluetooth Speaker and Water Bottle, $35, UncommonGoods.com.
8. Que Collapsible Bottle Is Perfect for Travel
One of the perks of this water bottle is that, fully extended, it has a capacity of 20 ounces. The coil design allows the bottle to collapse to hold just 12 ounces and stand at 6.8 inches. That’s ideal for when you travel, are on the move, or need to conserve space, and it’s easy to store in your cabinets. Unlike many reusable bottles, its silicone material makes it dishwasher-safe. Buy Que Collapsible Water Bottle (20 ounces), $24.95; QueBottle.com.
9. Hydro Coach PRO Tracks Your Intake of Various Fluids
Buy Hydro Coach PRO, $4.99, Google Play. RELATED: The Top 10 Hydrating Fruits
10. Savvy Infusion Water Bottle Puts Spa Water in Your Hands
Well priced, this water bottle has an infuser in the middle. You can pack fruits (like citrus slices and berries), veggies (cucumbers), or herbs (mint) inside, which will pump up your plain water with flavor. It’s way more convenient than filling up an entire pitcher for your fridge. To keep things interesting, create new combinations every day. If you’re not a water drinker, this may be the first time you’ll actually be stoked to sip.
11. Wetsleeve Keeps You Hydrated for Long Outdoor Workouts
Buy Wetsleeve, $39, WetSleeve.com.
12. Ulla Smart Hydration Reminder Sets a Visual Cue to Drink Up
Buy Ulla Smart Hydration Reminder, $30, Ulla.io. RELATED: The 7 Best Times to Drink Water
13. Uncommon Goods Drink More Water Bottle Offers Motivational Messages
Buy Uncommon Goods Drink More Water Bottle, $15, uncommongoods.com.
