Keeping Hydrated

The British summertime appears to be in full swing (touches wood, crosses fingers) It’s no secret, staying hydrated is an important part of your overall health, but there are lots of health benefits that aren’t as well known. Hydration can give your metabolism a boost, lubricate your joints, regulate your body temperature, and even aid digestion. If you’re thinking about upping your fluid intake, here are our six top tips to help you achieve this;

How much water you need is unique to you

There is a lot of information and advice out there for figuring out how much you should be drinking, common suggestions are 8 glasses per day or half your body weight in ounces. While both of these effective as general guidelines and are undoubtedly good goals to aim for, the truth is how much water you need depends on a number of factors. If you’re exercising, intensity of exercise, if it is hot outside, you will need to drink more than you do when you’re sitting in an air-conditioned office.

If you are thirsty, then drink

This may sound obvious, but it is essentially the key to staying hydrated is to quench your thirst. Thirst is the body’s natural way of telling you that it is becoming dehydrated and you need to refuel. Ignoring thirst can lead to more severe symptoms, such as, headaches, dry mouth, cramping, and even nausea.

If you are hungry, then drink

Sometimes the brain confuses thirst with hunger, so drinking water might keep you from munching when you don’t actually need to. If you’re still hungry after drinking a glass of water, go ahead and grab that snack.

Drink, before, during and after

When exercising, your body heats up, in response to the increased temperature you will begin to sweat in an effort to cool down, subsequently you will lose water. Exercise can also cause the symptoms of thirst to go unnoticed — so it’s important to drink plenty of water anyway.

Just keep drinking

It is easy to forget to drink enough water when you are busy throughout the day, so having water bottle (like this one) with you can serve as a reminder.

Stick to water! (mostly)

While other liquids can also help you stay hydrated (it’s a myth that coffee is dehydrating), many juices tend to come with extra calories and added sugar so it’s best to stick with plain water. If you don’t care for the taste (or lack thereof) of water, try adding calorie-free flavor by dropping in a fresh lemon wedge or other sliced fruits. And, if you’re exercising intensely, sports drinks with added electrolytes will help your body retain water quickly.