Staying hydrated is the key to staying fit and healthy, according to the NHS women should drink about 1.6 litres of fluid and men should drink about 2.0 litres of fluid per day.
However, this amount could differ depending on a range of elements for example, your size, the temperature outside and how much exercise you do, as this will affect the speed at which your body becomes dehydrated.
Water is one of the most crucial things we give our bodies, as they are made up of 60% water so therefore water is involved in all of a human’s bodily functions. There are many reasons that we should drink water, and I will be summarizing the main ones.
- Train Better – Water is responsible for delivering oxygen to our muscles, so therefore it scientifically helps the body to complete exercise in a better way.
- Losing Weight – When you don’t drink enough water and become dehydrated, your body holds on to fluid in your cells making you feel bloated in addition to making you gain weight.
- Keep Your Head Clear– If you often suffer from low energy levels, headaches and increased hunger, this could be a sign that you are not drinking enough water. So instead of having paracetamol or overeating, try drinking some water to see if you begin to feel more hydrated.
- Caffeine, Alcohol and Salt – Alcohol, Coffee and Salt are both “diuretics” which mean that they lead to dehydration by pushing water out of the body.
- Increase your Metabolism – If you are dehydrated then the kidneys cannot remove any toxins efficiently and the liver has to do all the work. However, if the liver can’t metabolize fat effectively, then it can lead to increased weight gain, slowing down of your organs, which results in feeling tired and lethargic.
- Keep your blood healthy – Your blood is made up of 90% water, so not having enough water in your system forces your body to take water from the blood instead. Causing the blood to thicken, which means it is more prone to clotting, thus resulting in things as serious of high cholesterol and heart disease.
- Soak up those nutrients – Water absorbs many of the nutrients within your food and carries them to the digestive system, improving the quality of the nutrients and their ability to be absorbed within the human body.
- Stay Loose – Water helps to ensure your mouth and eyes are kept lubricated, while your joints and muscles are made stronger decreasing the likelihood of cramps and sprains when exercising.
Here are some tips to help you drink more water if you struggle to stay hydrated.
- Have a glass of water with every meal or snack
- Add fruit to your water for example, strawberries and lime, fresh mint or lemon, by fruit infusing bottles to do this here.
- Eat lots of fruit and vegetables, with extremely high water content they will assist in staying hydrated. If you didn’t already know 20% of our fluid comes from food consumption.
- Take a water bottle with you everywhere, this will ensure you drink more water whilst saving money on those impulsive drinks you buy on a daily basis.
For more tips on how to lead a healthy lifestyle, visit the healthy living tips blog.