It cannot be understated how important water is to the human body. Every part of the body (organs, cells, tissue) needs water to function properly. Hydration is important for our health.
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 replenishing water often. 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/less urine
- Dry mouth
- Headaches
- Sleepiness/fatigue
- Extreme thirst
- Confusion
- Light headedness/ dizziness
If you struggle to take in enough water then try these tips:
- If you forget to drink water, give yourself a schedule a buy a water bottle with timings on it
- If you don’t like the taste of water, try 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).
- Keep a bottle of water with you throughout the day
- Be sure to drink water before, during and after exercise
For more information, check out our page on hydration here.
