Top tips for Hydration

As the (extremely) hot summer is drawing to an end you may start to forget to drink your water. However, even though it is starting to get cooler, hydration is key to having a healthy, functioning body. Every part of the body (organs, cells, tissue) needs water to function properly.

The amount of water we should be taking in each day may be different for each individual (generally the goal is 6-8 glasses of water a day but some people may need more) but this doesn’t just have to be in the form of a glass of water, other drinks and foods will also contribute such as juices, milk, teas, watermelon, tomatoes, lettuce etc.).

The body looses water constantly through sweating, breathing or going to the toilet meaning we need to be constantly replacing this water. This also means that there will be times you need to be taking in more water than usual for example when the weather is warmer, when your doing more physical activity or when you are sick.

Dehydration

It doesn’t take a lot to start feeling the effects of dehydration. The are several signs that your body doesn’t have enough fluid to function properly.

Signs of dehydration:

• Darker or less urine

• Dry mouth

• Headaches

• Sleepiness/fatigue

• Extreme thirst

• Confusion

• Light headedness or dizziness

If you struggle to take in enough water then try these tips:

• Keep a bottle of water with you throughout the day

• If you forget to drink water, try using a water tracking app that gives you reminder notifications or buy a water bottle with timings on it

• If you don’t like the taste of water, try mixing it up by adding a small amount of squash or cordial (be mindful of the amount of sugar this will be adding) or some fresh fruit (e.g slice of lemon).

• Add more water-rich fruit and vegetables to your diet such as: melon, grapes, carrot, spinach, lettuce and berries

• Be sure to drink water before, during and after exercise

For more information have a look at our Hydration page.