Everyone talks about drinking more water – but what are the benefits ?
- Water is a great choice over calorie dense beverages & although it doesn’t have any magical effect on weight loss, choosing it can help cut down on calories laden milkshakes or sugar filled fizzy drinks. And it can take the edge off hunger, often we may be thirsty rather than hungry, but don’t realise.
- Research has shown that increasing water intake can lead to eating less saturated fat, sodium & sugar.
- Water can help our muscles work & perform better. Drinking enough water is really important when exercising, as fluid is lost by our bodies through sweating.
- Water gives your skin a boost & helps it to look good. If your skin is dehydrated it can be dry & more wrinkled, this can improve with hydration.
- Water helps your kidneys as body fluids transport waste products in & out of cells.
- Drinking water helps to maintain the balance of body fluids. 60 % of your body is water & the fluids aid digestion, absorption, circulation, saliva creation, transporting nutrients & maintaining body temperature. When you’re low on fluids the brain triggers the thirst cue- you should act on those cues & drink water, juice, milk or coffee but avoid alcohol.
- Water keeps your bowels working properly. It gets things flowing nicely & prevents constipation – enough said !!!
- Drink water for brain health – water makes up 75% of the brain & even slight dehydration can affect cognitive performance, including memory, mood & focus.
- Being hydrated is important for your joint health, it keeps the synovial fluid in your joints healthy, providing lubrication, shock absorption, cushioning & nutrition.
There is no agreed amount of water that everyone should drink , diseases & medication can affect how thirsty we feel , so it’s always good to get it checked out by your doctor or physician, if you’re unsure, or are constantly thirsty.
If you don’t like drinking water , most fruit & veg contain high amounts of water and can easily count towards half your daily intake if you’re eating healthily e.g. watermelon, salad foods like lettuce, cucumber , tomatoes, apples & courgettes.
The average healthy woman needs about 4-6 cups or about 2 litres of fluid per day, this can increase with exercise & soaring temperatures and it will vary from person to person, depending on how much they sweat.
And of course, it’s not just water on it’s own that keeps you hydrated, all drinks containing water count towards your daily needs as well.
An easy way to drink more, if you’re not getting enough is to drink a large glass of water with your meals, this also helps you feel less hungry !
Claire x
