Hydrating every part of you
Being hydrated is essential for our brains to function. Water helps to regulate the body’s temperature, flushes waste and toxins from the body and lubricates our joints. Increasing your water intake is also one of the key things to do if you want to improve your skin, your digestion, your energy levels, your concentration, and your mood. It also supports the body’s natural detoxification pathways to flush out toxins and waste.
8 glass minimum
While individual hydration needs can vary based on factors such as age, activity level, climate, and overall health, as a rule, we should be drinking a minimum of 8 glasses of water per day, with an extra litre for every hour of exercise that we do.
Signs that your body is thirsty include: a dry mouth, dark-coloured urine, headaches, low energy, poor concentration, anxiety, sugar cravings, constipation, and water retention.
8 great hydration tips
- Buy a water bottle.This may seem obvious but you’re much more likely to be topping up your hydration levels if you have a water bottle in your handbag/on your desk/in your car to remind you to drink it. Always choose a glass or metal water bottle rather than plastic – this ensures you are not consuming any BPA or BPS found in plastic water bottles. These are endocrine (hormone) disrupting chemicals which have been linked to reproductive issues (PCOS, endometriosis, period pain, infertility) as well as obesity and even some cancers.
- Add some flavour.Sometimes the cause of not drinking enough water simply comes down to boredom of taste. Try adding blueberries, sliced lemon, grapefruit, fresh mint or sliced cucumber to keep your taste buds interested.
- Spread your fluid intake throughout the day: Rather than drinking large amounts of water at once, try to sip water consistently throughout the day. This helps your body absorb and utilize the fluids more effectively.
- Set a reminder.Abolish the excuse “I just forget to drink water” with some handy apps to remind you to drink up. Try Water Reminder or Hydro Coach.
- Drink herbal tea.Don’t forget that herbal tea (but not regular black tea, and definitely not black coffee, sorry!) contributes to your daily intake of water and come with some extra health benefits. Try chamomile tea to calm a frazzled nervous system, or ginger tea for an upset tummy.
- Eat your water.Foods such as celery, lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes and watermelon all have a high-water content, so include these in your diet as much as possible.
- Consider your activity level: If you’re physically active or engaging in intense exercise, you’ll need to increase your fluid intake to compensate for the fluid loss through sweat. Drink water before, during, and after exercise to maintain hydration.
- Be mindful of your environment: Hot and humid weather increases your fluid requirements. When it’s hot outside, drink extra water to stay properly hydrated. The same goes for high-altitude locations, as you may require additional fluids due to increased respiratory water loss.
Remember, these are general guidelines, and it’s important to listen to your body’s cues and adjust your fluid intake accordingly. Certain individuals, such as pregnant or breastfeeding women, athletes, older adults, and people with specific health conditions, may have higher hydration requirements.
How Optimal Health Can Help
If you have specific health concerns or questions about your hydration needs we recommend starting with an Initial Health Consultation for new patients. We connect via Zoom, listen clearly to your health concerns and priorities, ensure our philosophy meets your needs, and recommend the starting point for an Optimal Health Treatment Pathway ©
