Dehydration is a common problem, and one that many people might not even realise they are suffering from. It can cause a whole range of issues. The problem is that for most people, water just isn’t considered a vital part of daily fluid intake.
They presume they are getting enough through their consumption of tea, coffee, fizzy drinks and other sugary, calorie-laden drinks, but on the whole, it just isn’t enough to keep us fully hydrated. My advice? Try swapping some of those drinks for water, and you may well see those headaches begin to disappear, and your concentration start to get back to normal. Because, at the end of the day, water really is the most efficient way to keep our bodies hydrated, with zero calories.
So, how much water should you be drinking – and how can you tell if you’re drinking enough?
The recommended daily intake of water for women is around 1.6 litres (8 glasses), while men are recommended to drink about 2.0 litres or 10 glasses per day. This does of course depend on a number of things, such as how active you are, or the temperature. So how can you know if you’re getting enough water? Well, the best way to know is to check the colour of your pee! Almost clear and you’re probably drinking too much water, dark yellow and you should drink more. A pale straw colour is just right!
There are even more benefits to keeping yourself hydrated than just getting rid of those pesky headaches and improving your concentration. In fact, drinking more water is one of the easiest and simplest ways to improve your overall health. Below are just a few of the benefits of staying drinking plenty of water.
Staying hydrated can…
…help you to lose weight. Various studies over the years have shown that women who drink more water are more likely to weigh less. It makes sense really, given that simply swapping sugary drinks for water could save you more than 200 calories per day! What better reason to swap those fizzy drinks for water?!
…help with digestive problems. Some people might not realise that good digestion relies not only on good fibre intake, but also on water. Being dehydrated can leave us feeling constipated and can exacerbate any digestive tract illnesses, such as IBS. So simply by ensuring you drink enough water each day could help to keep your digestive system as healthy as possible.
… give you youthful, brighter skin. Did you know that one third of your skin is made up of water? So it’s not surprising that one of the best things you can do for your skin is to keep hydrated. Drinking a healthy amount of water will help to keep your skin cells plump, looking brighter, and could help banish any blemishes, and improve skin tone and clarity. And, let’s be honest, water is a good deal cheaper than those expensive anti-ageing creams many of us slather on every day!
You can make it easier on yourself by carrying a water bottle, using an app to record the amount you’re drinking, and making sure you have a water jug on the table at every meal.
Dr Sally Norton is a leading UK health expert and found of www.vavista.com
How important is hydration to health?
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