Hydration - Why is it important

Did you know that by being just 2% dehydrated, you would medically be in the same state as someone who was impaired by alcohol. Your reaction time will be decreased, Your memory will slow down. You will not be at your best. 

How can I stay hydrated? 

With people becoming more aware of their health, proper eating habits and exercise routines have become more significant than ever. Despite this, we are all guilty of occasionally overlooking our need for hydration. Here are some tips and tricks to get you sipping.

•Spice it up by adding natural flavours like herbs or fresh fruits.

•Eat your H2O. Eating water-rich foods is an effective way to increase your water intake. Make sure your grocery shopping list includes fruits and vegetables that have high water content. Some water rich foods include watermelon, zucchini, cucumber, grapefruits, strawberries, and lettuce.

•Install a water drinking app on your smartphone. There are numerous water monitoring apps available such as Waterlogged, Hydro Coach, and many more that you can download on your Android or iOS device to help you keep track of your daily H2O intake.

•Drink water before you get thirsty. Thirst is a sign that your body is already dehydrated. Therefore, to avoid arriving at this point, remember to sip water throughout the day. 

How much water should I drink every day? 

There are various opinions on how much an individual's daily water intake should be, the most common being about two litres a day. However, many internal and external factors ultimately affect how much water one needs. 

•For children between the ages of 4 to 13: drink between 1 litre to 1.7 litres of water per day depending on their age and gender. This is approximately four to six cups of water a day. The difference in water intake is due to the different make up of our bodies, where males tend to have higher fat levels, hence requiring more water.

•For adults: Men need roughly 3 litres of water while women require 2.2 litres a day. That is roughly about 13 cups for men and 9 cups for women.

•For the physically active: Take at least 2.7 litres, 11 cups of water, daily since strenuous physical activity, like going to the gym, can cause a rapid drop in fluid levels.

When is the optimal time to take in water?  

There are certain times in the day that are best to hydrate to maximize the water's effectiveness on your body:

•After waking up to activate your internal body organs;

•Before taking a bath to lower blood pressure;

•Thirty minutes before eating to help in digestion and about an hour later to give the body time to absorb the food's nutrients;

•Before going to bed to account for any fluid loss as you sleep.

With these good hydration habits, you’ll have your metabolism running, energy up, digestion in check, and skin glowing.