Spa waters are everywhere on Pinterest these days. I decided to finally try them and do a little research on the benefits. You might be surprised to find that spa waters aren't just a fancy way to drink your water.

The Importance of Staying Hydrated

Did you know that 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated? That it takes just a 2% drop in hydration to make your head feel fuzzy? You can increase your concentration, health and energy just by drinking enough water! That's a good reason to start upping your water intake. And yes, it should be water, sodas, tea and coffee are diuretics and don't really hydrate you.

Doctors recommend that you drink 8 glasses of water a day. That's harder than it sounds! I usually get two down during the day, tops. That's why I really like these spa waters. I drink a lot more and actually hit my goal most days now.

Losing Weight with Spa Waters

Need to drop some pounds? The best way to do that is to avoid reaching for high calorie snacks and drinks. Homemade flavored waters can be really useful for this. I find myself sipping away all day when I have something with a little taste to it. You'll eat less and won't feel as deprived. 

Boost That Metabolism

Certain foods will help you increase your metabolism, so you'll burn more calories throughout the day. These include apples, mint, cucumber and citrus fruits. Consider adding one or two of these to your water. 

What to Put In Your Water

Anything that you like the sounds of will work! Here are a few suggestions:

Cucumber: boosts metabolism, acts as an anti-inflammatory

Lemon/Lime: Vitamin C, boosts metabolism

Orange: Vitamin C, boosts metabolism

Mint: cools the body, boosts metabolism

Ginger: increases immunity, boosts metabolism

Cinnamon: helps you lose weight, increases immunity

Strawberries: Vitamin C, adds sweetness

Apples: boost metabolism, adds sweetness

Peaches: adds sweetness, Vitamin C

Kiwi: Vitamin C, boosts metabolism

Now, keep in mind that these are very lightly flavoring the water, so you probably aren't going to get crazy benefits from them, but it is certainly a good way to help your drink your water.

How to Prepare Your Spa Water

Once you have chosen your fruits and vegetables, slice them thinly. I find that a mandolin works very well for this. Berries can go in whole. Toss everything into a pitcher and fill with water. 

Keep the pitcher in the fridge and when it reaches the halfway mark, just refill it. You can do this all day long. It's a great help to help you drink enough water throughout the day.