Grumpy Old Man

Water is a common chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of life. In typical usage, water refers only to its liquid form or state, but the substance also has a solid state, ice, and a gaseous state, water vapor. About 1.460 petatonnes (Pt) of water covers 71% of the Earth’s surface, mostly in oceans and other large water bodies, with 1.6% of water below ground in aquifers and 0.001% in the air as vapor, clouds (formed of solid and liquid water particles suspended in air), and precipitation.  Saltwater oceans hold 97% of surface water, glaciers and polar ice caps 2.4%, and other land surface water such as rivers, lakes and ponds 0.6%. Some of the water of the earth is contained within manufactured products, water towers, biological bodies and food stores. Other water is trapped in ice caps, glaciers, aquifers, or in lakes, sometimes providing fresh water for life on land.

Sometimes plain old water gets boring, and adding some flavoring can help you drink more. You can buy flavored water, of course, but I think it’s one of the most overpriced things in the store. Here are some ideas for drinking fluids that don’t include adding a bunch of sugar, or cost a bunch of money.

If you want to stay away from artificial additives and caffeine, you can add some flavor to your water the natural way with:
• A twist of lemon or lime (or a little juice)
• A small piece of fruit
• A little unsweetened cranberry concentrate (look in health food stores)
• A cucumber slice (subtle, however refreshing)
• A mint leaf or two (“bruise” them a little to release the flavor
If you don’t mind some artificial sweetener or other additives, try adding:
• A little diet cranberry juice (not “light”, but “diet” — the light kind has more sugar)
• Crystal Light, Unsweetened Kool-Aid, or other sugar-free drink mix (but check carefully for hidden carbs in some)
• Make a limeade or lemonade by adding some juice (1 gram of carb per tablespoon) and sweetener
• Any of the above flavorings can be added to plain club soda, seltzer water, or diet tonic water.
• Buy flavored sparkling waters at the store.

You should replace milk and soda with water to drink when you are thirsty, but do not force yourself to drink water. Overhydration can cause cramps while exercising!

Buy a Pur filter for your tap water if you don’t like regular! It cleans out germs & makes it taste more fresh. You can also purchase flavors for them like strawberry, peach or raspberry to make your tap water fruity as and when needed.

Aquafina has a product called FlavorSplash. FlavorSplash is a product that makes water fruit-flavored. Try this if you don’t like tap water!

One original way to making water more thirst-quenching is by mixing a teaspoon of honey with a Tablespoon of apple-cider vinegar to luke warm water in order to melt the honey. Stir well and add enough water to make a gallon. Chill it and enjoy after that! (There are many experts who recommend apple-cider vinegar for over-all health.)

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