I don't like the taste of water, so I don't drink enough of it. Is there an alternative I can have or anything that I can add to water to make it lose the taste of water without turning it into juice?
- Erica*

Getting enough fluids is the key to avoiding dehydration. Almost as important is making sure you don't drink too many calories with sugary beverages like soda, juice, and sports drinks.

Water is always the best way to hydrate and avoid empty calories, but if you think it's too blah and it's just not doing it for you, you can always spruce it up.

You have endless ways to make your very own concoction. Jazz up your water by adding some citrus — a slice or two of lemon or lime or a squeeze of orange can help make water more palatable. Give flavored seltzer a try; it's got the fizz of a soda without all the calories. Or make your own spritzer by adding a splash of juice to plain seltzer. If none of these tricks work, try some watered-down juice, using more water than juice. Don't give up on water just yet!

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: May 2010

*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.