Why do some people dislike the taste of water?
“We often hear people say that water doesn’t have a taste, but that’s actually a misconception. It has metals, minerals and salts that impact the overall taste of it resulting in many people having strong preferences over their tap water specifically. In fact, people are really passionate about the best and worst tap water – just recently the internet blew up with people claiming Perth’s tap water is the worst,” explains Dix. “When so many of us have a preference for the type of water we’re drinking, it can be easy to understand how this can extend to people who just don’t like the taste of water at all and really struggle to drink it ‘plain’. Ultimately not liking water just comes down to a preference in taste.
How much water do you need to drink per day?
“It’s recommended that every adult drinks at least two litres of water per day. While this number will vary depending on a person’s body weight, height, and level of physical activity, as a whole, Australians aren’t drinking enough water. Last year a survey revealed that half of Australians aren’t getting enough water each day, which is worrying especially considering the extreme heat we can experience across the country which makes drinking water that much more important,” says Dix. “If you’re not sure whether you’re getting enough water in, there are a ton of hydration apps out there that can help keep track of your drinking habits and enable you to reach daily targets.”
How do electrolyte options compare to straight water?
“Just like water, electrolytes are vital for our body. They help with things like preventing muscle cramping, regulating fluid levels, building new body tissue and keeping all our vital muscles contracting – including our heart!
“Electrolytes are basically essential minerals, such as sodium, calcium and potassium, that play a key role in helping the body function properly. When electrolytes are lost from your body during exercise or when you’re sick, drinking an electrolyte beverage can help you replenish them,” she adds.
“While electrolytes on their own are healthy, many electrolyte drinks in the market have a lot of added sugar. For most people, consuming electrolyte beverages can be beneficial, however, those with high blood pressure should make sure to ask their doctor before adding any additional supplements into their diets.”
5 healthy ways and tricks to drink more water
Here are some of the easiest ways to up your water intake and improve your overall health.
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Carry a water bottle. Sometimes water can feel out-of-sight, out-of-mind. Having a water bottle on you prevents that excuse and gives you a long-lasting supply of water throughout the day. Bonus points for those who carry reusable water bottles and are doing their part for the environment while staying healthy and hydrated!
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Making drinks fun. Let’s admit it, sometimes drinking plain water is boring, even if you like the taste of it. A great hack is to add a bit of flavour into your drinks, like the ones listed below. You can even get a bit fancier and create a hydrating mocktail by adding on garnishes like a sprig of rosemary or a slice of lemon.
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Set a daily goal. It’s easy to get dehydrated when we’re not actively tracking our water intake. It’s a good idea to set a daily goal for the amount of water you want to drink and stick to it. This is where water bottles come in handy – if you have a one litre bottle of water, then that’s just two bottles you need to consume a day.
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Drink in between drinks. It may sound simple, but having one drink of water for every soft drink, tea, or wine you consume can greatly increase your overall hydration.
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Make it a part of your daily routine. Drinking water doesn’t have to be a chore but a regular part of the daily routine. Prioritise drinking one glass after waking up and before bed and you’ll set the mornings and evenings up for success.
The best ways to flavour your water
Microlyte Taster Pack
In just 3 simple steps, your water becomes a powerful electrolyte drink to suit your taste. They’re small cubes that dissolve in any glass or bottle of water and contain nine vitamins and four electrolytes to help replenish the body after workouts or exertion. They’re also loved by a number of high performing athletes.
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Hydralyte Effervescent Tablets
Hydralyte helps relieves symptoms of dehydration and helps replace water and electrolytes lost due to vomiting, diarrhoea, heavy sweating, vigorous exercise and occasional hangovers. They also make your water test a bit less watery.
Twinings, Cold Water Infusions
Spiking water with some fruit is another simple way to upgrade its taste. Show off colourful berries and fruit slices with a DIY water infuser bottle or grab a ready-made one like this one by Twinings. Shop now
scnt.™ V2.0 – Scent-Based Taste Water Bottle
You might have seen these trending on Tiktok, but they’re basically a way to add flavour to your water… without actually adding flavour. A scent-based taste system, scnt works by attaching one of the brands scented pods on the top on their water bottle. As you drink, you’re basically smelling the flavour – tricking your brain into thinking you’re actually tasting it. Wild, right?
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Hoyts Cinnamon Sticks
Spice water up (literally!) with this tip from TheKitchn: Simmer a cinnamon stick in a cup of water, then use the resulting liquid as a concentrate that you mix with cold water and ice. Not only does the flavored water taste great, but cinnamon comes with a host of its own health benefits; it can help lower blood sugar and cholesterol.
