Some of us would never want to admit it, but sometimes we don't drink enough water because it lacks flavor! As immature as that sounds, I'll be the first to admit that this is one reason I don't drink enough myself! In order for the body to function properly, all our cells and organs need water. It is essential for the health of our kidneys, and the hydration, elasticity, and healthy appearance of our skin. Our bodies use water in all of its cells, organs, and tissues to help regulate its temperature and maintain other bodily functions that are crucial to human life.
Water boosts our energy, and overall immune system, enhances our complexions, flushes out toxins, and helps maintain proper flora levels throughout our bodies. Still, some of us opt out of drinking water in exchange of sugary, or carbonated drinks.
Experts say that we should drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses a day, which equals about 2 liters, or half a gallon. A half a gallon of agua seems like a tall order of flavorless-ness, but I'm convinced that drinking more water is all a matter of tricking your mind! Here are some of my favorite tips and tricks for drinking more water when I have a sugar fix.
Charge Your Water With Crystals
Like water, crystals are a part of earth's magical elements. Its healing effects and properties can be used in an abundance of ways. By dropping a clear crystal quartz in your water and drinking it everyday, you will feel a difference in your mood, energy, and focus throughout the day. If you get in the habit of drinking water with crystals, you might be more inclined to drink more water after you feel the effects the crystals will have on your everyday life.
Infuse Your Water With Nutrient- & Vitamin-Rich Fruits Or Herbs
For some of us, the fact that water has no flavor completely deters us from drinking eight glasses of it on a daily basis. By infusing your water with healthy fruits and herbs, you not only add a bit of taste to your water, but you also double up on any vitamins that they may contain.
For instance, adding cucumber to your water can help clear up acne, as well as give you a healthy boost of vitamin B5. Adding lemon and lime to your water is a great way to help you to lose weight, as well as aid in cleansing your liver. You can also use stuff like oranges, lemongrass, pears, mint, and berries to bump up the flavor and nutrients.
Try Making Agua Frescas
If adding cucumber, mint, lime, or lemon doesn't give you enough punch, why not make your own agua fresca juices? You can make this by blending fresh fruits with water and a bit of sweetener. You don't want to defeat the purpose of trying to drink more water without processed sugars, so try a drizzle of agave or honey instead of white sugar to enhance sweetness. This concoction is basically a watered-down juice. Replace at least three cups of water with agua frescas, so you don't feel like you are missing out completely on your 8 cups a day.
Buy More Distilled Water & Less Sugary Drinks
I might sound like Captain Obvious, but have you ever been in your home with nothing to drink, and because you were too lazy to go out and buy something else, you just drank the water? I think it would be appropriate for me to place the 🙋🏾♀️ emoji ️here. I find myself doing this often when I don't have juice or soda in the house. By getting in the habit of buying more water, instead of sugar-filled drinks, you train yourself to drink more water by default.
Put Your Water In Empty Wine Bottles
This is probably my favorite and most shameless Drink-More-Water mind trick. If you're like me, you love your wine! The way I break it down is that if you can drink a whole bottle of wine, you can drink a whole wine bottle filled with water. I have tried this myself, and I can absolutely say that I have completed more water-filled wine bottles than I ever do any 2-liter bottle of Poland Spring...and I am not ashamed.
Featured image by Emmanuel Ben-Paul on Unsplash
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Adrian Marcel On Purpose, Sacrifice, And The 'Signs Of Life'
In this week's episode of xoMAN, host Kiara Walker talked with R&B artist Adrian Marcel, who opened up, full of heart and authenticity, about his personal evolution. He discussed his days transitioning from a young Bay Area singer on the come-up to becoming a grounded husband and father of four.
With honesty and introspection, Marcel reflected on how life, love, and loss have shaped the man he is today.
On ‘Life’s Subtle Signals’
Much of the conversation centered around purpose, sacrifice, and listening to life’s subtle signals. “I think that you really have to pay attention to the signs of life,” Marcel said. “Because as much as we need to make money, we are not necessarily on this Earth for that sole purpose, you know what I mean?” While he acknowledged his ambitions, adding, “that is not me saying at all I’m not trying to ball out,” he emphasized that fulfillment goes deeper.
“We are here to be happy. We are here [to] fulfill a purpose that we are put on here for.”
On Passion vs. Survival
Adrian spoke candidly about the tension between passion and survival, describing how hardship can sometimes point us away from misaligned paths. “If you find it’s constantly hurting you… that’s telling you something. That’s telling you that you’re going outside of your purpose.”
Marcel’s path hasn’t been without detours. A promising athlete in his youth, he recalled, “Early on in my career, I was still doing sports… I was good… I had a scholarship.” An injury changed everything. “My femur broke. Hence why I always say, you know, I’m gonna keep you hip like a femur.” After the injury, he pivoted to explore other careers, including teaching and corporate jobs.
“It just did not get me—even with any success that happened in anything—those times, back then, I was so unhappy. And you know, to a different degree. Like not just like, ‘I really want to be a singer so that’s why I’m unhappy.’ Nah, it was like, it was not fulfilling me in any form or fashion.”
On Connection Between Pursuing Music & Fatherhood
He recalled performing old-school songs at age 12 to impress girls, then his father challenged him: “You can lie to these girls all you want, but you're really just lying to yourself. You ain't growing.” That push led him to the piano—and eventually, to his truth. “Music is my love,” Marcel affirmed. “I wouldn’t be a happy husband if I was here trying to do anything else just to appease her [his wife].”
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by xoNecole/YouTube
Adrian Marcel On Purpose, Sacrifice, And The 'Signs Of Life'
In this week's episode of xoMAN, host Kiara Walker talked with R&B artist Adrian Marcel, who opened up, full of heart and authenticity, about his personal evolution. He discussed his days transitioning from a young Bay Area singer on the come-up to becoming a grounded husband and father of four.
With honesty and introspection, Marcel reflected on how life, love, and loss have shaped the man he is today.
On ‘Life’s Subtle Signals’
Much of the conversation centered around purpose, sacrifice, and listening to life’s subtle signals. “I think that you really have to pay attention to the signs of life,” Marcel said. “Because as much as we need to make money, we are not necessarily on this Earth for that sole purpose, you know what I mean?” While he acknowledged his ambitions, adding, “that is not me saying at all I’m not trying to ball out,” he emphasized that fulfillment goes deeper.
“We are here to be happy. We are here [to] fulfill a purpose that we are put on here for.”
On Passion vs. Survival
Adrian spoke candidly about the tension between passion and survival, describing how hardship can sometimes point us away from misaligned paths. “If you find it’s constantly hurting you… that’s telling you something. That’s telling you that you’re going outside of your purpose.”
Marcel’s path hasn’t been without detours. A promising athlete in his youth, he recalled, “Early on in my career, I was still doing sports… I was good… I had a scholarship.” An injury changed everything. “My femur broke. Hence why I always say, you know, I’m gonna keep you hip like a femur.” After the injury, he pivoted to explore other careers, including teaching and corporate jobs.
“It just did not get me—even with any success that happened in anything—those times, back then, I was so unhappy. And you know, to a different degree. Like not just like, ‘I really want to be a singer so that’s why I’m unhappy.’ Nah, it was like, it was not fulfilling me in any form or fashion.”
On Connection Between Pursuing Music & Fatherhood
He recalled performing old-school songs at age 12 to impress girls, then his father challenged him: “You can lie to these girls all you want, but you're really just lying to yourself. You ain't growing.” That push led him to the piano—and eventually, to his truth. “Music is my love,” Marcel affirmed. “I wouldn’t be a happy husband if I was here trying to do anything else just to appease her [his wife].”
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by xoNecole/YouTube