Are you drinking enough water?
Most people I talk to admit that they don’t drink enough water, and for many clients I see, it’s the simple change of hydrating appropriately that makes a huge difference to their health
Our body weight is approximately 60% water – it uses H20 in ALL its cells, organs, and tissues to help regulate and maintain bodily functions. Because your body loses water through breathing, sweating, and digestion, it’s important to rehydrate by drinking enough.
Water is crucial for so many aspects of the body, but if you’re not getting enough it often impacts your;
Brain function
Digestive system
Detox & Excretion pathways
Body Temperature
Joint & skeletal health
Brain Function
If you want your old noggin to be working properly you better ensure you’re drinking enough water. Studies show that drinking enough water impacts your focus, alertness, and short-term memory. Often before we even feel the physical effects of thirst, we find our brain slowing down. Prevention is key – don’t let yourself get thirsty and your brain will thank you
Dehyrdation also has a massive impact on our mood! It may result in fatigue and confusion as well as anxiety.
Digestion
Water is critical for good digestion – it starts right from the top – in your mouth. You need water to create saliva which contains small amounts of electrolytes, mucus, and enzymes. These are essential for breaking down food and is your first defense of your immune system if any bad guys are present.
Water also helps to maintain healthy bowels – if you’re constipated it’s could be you’re not drinking enough water to form those lovely stools.
Not only this, water also helps dissolve and absorb vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients from your food. Drinking before or after meals (not during) is usually recommended
Detox
Phase 3 of your detox pathways is excretion – to properly get rid of waste products from our body and lifestyle we must make sure it can actually leave!
Water helps us to excrete waste through urination (peeing), perspiration (sweating) and well… pooping.
Joint Health
Water helps to lubricate and cushion your joints, spinal cord, and tissues. It’s especially important to keep hydrated if you want to avoid or improve conditions like arthritis
Top tips
These areas are fundamental to feeling at your optimal, so why don’t we just drink more water? Here are some top tips on how to stay hydrated;
The FIRST thing you should do in the morning isn’t checking your phone – Drink a glass of water! I put one on my bedside table before I go to sleep at night so I can drink the glass as soon as I wake up
Jazz it up – if you don’t like the taste of water then stick something fresh in it that tastes good (and I don’t mean cordial) – fresh mint, ginger, cucumber, citrus fruit or berries all make your water taste great and have the added phytonutrient bonus! You can even buy water bottles with an inbuilt infuser!
Invest in a decent LARGE water bottle or use a pint glass – it’s no good carrying a tiny one around and forgetting to drink from it. A larger bottle instantly reminds you how much water you have or haven’t drunk yet. You can even buy one with measurements on it to keep track on what you’ve had like this one (opt for glass or metal as the plastic ones come with extra health concerns!)
Herbal Tea counts! – herbal teas carry great health benefits but also count towards your daily intake of water. The same can’t be said for black tea or coffee however due to their diuretic effects
I’m off to grab a glass of water – all this talk is making me thirsty!
