Have you ever struggled with drinking the recommended eight glasses of water a day but have no problem finishing three cups of coffee, a pint of iced tea, and a large soft drink? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Nearly 80% of Americans say they don’t drink enough water, many citing they just don’t like the taste.
It’s no secret that many Americans prefer drinking sugary, carbonated, flavored drinks. However, those added sugars, not the sugar naturally occurring in fruits and dairy products, contribute zero nutrients to your diet but can lead to health problems such as weight gain and obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Water on the other hand, is great for your health. It improves your mood, productivity, memory, energy level, and clarity. So, what’s the key to drinking more of it? Make your water taste better!
Here are six ways you can add pizzazz to your water, so you’ll drink more of it:
1. Use filtration.
I’m sure we’ve all experienced taking a sip of water and having it taste ‘off.’ Whether it tastes earthy, sulfuric, metallic, or like chlorine, it isn’t good. These flavors may originate from algae, disinfectants, and minerals, but for the most part, are not generally dangerous to your health. However, they can be unpleasant to taste or smell while drinking your water. Using filtration technology ensures that your water is free of sediment, chemicals, and odors; making it great-tasting.
The good news is, you no longer have to buy bottled water to get filtered water. There are a ton of filtration options out there, including faucet filter systems, pitchers, and dispensers. It you’re looking for a filtered water dispenser, then look no further – Quench offers bottleless filtered water coolers.
2. Add bubbles.
Mmm…bubbles! Many people prefer sparkling water over still water because of the carbonation. The carbonation is what gives the water fizzy, crisp taste, like what’s found in soft drinks, but without the added sugar. If still water isn’t inspiring you to drink the recommended eight glasses of water a day, then try drinking a glass of bubbly water. It’s crisp and refreshing, and it fills you up, too.
Just like filtered water, you no longer need to buy bottled or canned seltzer water to get what you’re looking for. Now, there are sparkling water machines you can get for the home and office. Check out Quench’s sparkling water dispensers for the workplace for some inspiration.
3. Add flavor.
With the trend toward health-conscious drinks, many flavored waters are available in no or low calorie, and no or low added sugar. Some boast only natural flavors and come in still and sparkling water options.
The majority of options used to be bottled, but there’s been a ton of recent innovation by beverage companies. You can now get flavored water from a bottleless water cooler, just like filtered and seltzer water. These machines allow you to mix and match flavors, just like if you ordered a case of flavored water. With the ability to customize flavors, as well as select options with caffeine or other ‘boosters’—you’re sure to find your favorite water! Check out the Bevi by Quench and the Quench 625 for a machine that does both!
4. Add ice.
Some say that ice water tastes better than water served at room temperature. This is largely because our tastes buds react more intensely with warm fluids. So, the colder the beverage the lesser the taste. It may be as simple as adding ice to your water to make it more enjoyable. But, there are a lot of different ice types out there – so, it might not be that simple!
- Cubed ice – Hard and usually clear. It melts slowly making it great for a wide variety of drinks where taste dilution would mar the taste of the beverage.
- Half-cubed ice – Hard and usually clear. It melts faster than full-cubed ice but slower than crushed ice, making it ideal for mix drinks.
- Crushed ice – Tends to chill drinks quickly but also melts faster than many other types of ice. If you don’t want it to dilute your drinks, stir it in your beverage and then strain it out.
- Bullet ice – Not as hard as cubed ice and thus will melt faster. On the other hand, it is not as soft and chewable as nugget ice. It is round and hollow in the middle. The smallest sizes are ideal for cocktails and while the larger ones are perfect for drinking water and carbonated drinks.
- Nugget (chewable) ice – Commonly referred to as ‘Sonic® Ice,’ this ice is well known for its soft and chewable texture and its ability to retain the flavor of any beverage it’s mixed with. This makes it the perfect choice for cocktails, smoothies, juices and a variety of other beverages.
Once you decide which type of ice is your favorite, the next thing to do is find an ice machine that makes it. If you’re looking for half-cubed, bullet, or nugget ice – Quench has an ice machine for you.
5. Add fruit.
Citrus fruits, such as lemons, limes, and oranges, are classic water enhancers, but other fruit flavors might also tempt your taste buds. Try crushing fresh raspberries or watermelon into your water or adding strawberry slices. Cucumber is also a refreshing flavor – especially in the summer. This will give your water a sweet, fruit flavor and a fun, bright color.
6. Add herbs.
Adding herbs to your water, like mint or crushed basil, is a great way to punch up its flavor (it’s kind of like making a mojito, minus the sugar and alcohol). Steep leaves in the water overnight, and feel free to add a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime in the morning. Yum!
With these six tips to making your water taste better, you should have no problem drinking the recommended eight glasses of water a day. And remember, you can still drink your cup of coffee or glass of tea – just don’t use them as water replacements. If you’re reading this article and thinking, “I love the ideas, but don’t have the time,” then a Quench water cooler might be the one-stop solution for you.
Drink Quench
Quench offers filtered water coolers that can make hot, cold, and room temperature water; sparkling water; flavored water; and ice. That’s four out of the six tips just from one water dispenser. That’s right; no more wasting time trying to figure out how to carbonate and flavor your water. Just get a Quench water cooler! Check out Quench’s product finder to see which machine is right for you.
