Today we are going to talk about water intake and the associated benefits and how it can make you leaner and healthier.
Many of you may be thinking yeah, yeah I've heard I need to drink more water...but how many of you actually do drink enough water?
Is your fluid intake mostly made up of coffees and soft drinks or do you drink water too?
I'm sure you have felt the effects of dehydration before - dry mouth and headache but did you know lethargy is a symptom too?
If you have reached the level of thirst then you are already dehydrated.
Let's discuss some reasons why water is imperative for your health and who wouldn't want the following benefits!!
- It boosts your skin.
- Your digestive health depends on it - The bowel needs water to work properly. Dehydration can lead to digestive problems, constipation, and an overly acidic stomach. This increases the risk of heartburn and stomach ulcers.
- It maintains blood pressure.
- It prevents kidney damage - the kidneys regulate water levels in the body and dehydration can lead to kidney stones. NO ONE wants a kidney stone!
- It boosts performance when exercising - dehydration basically stops your body being efficient and can make your workouts harder. You struggle to regulate your body temperature and burn out quicker. Make sure you are hydrated beforehand not just whilst training.
- It helps weight loss - not only does choosing water mean you're saving calories compared to soft drinks and other beverages but you are feeding the body what it needs to be efficient. When the body is happy it is more likely to start losing weight (if that is your goal)
- Dehydration can make asthma and other breathing difficult - when dehydrated your body will constrict its airways to limit loss.
- It flushes waste - your body and gut need an adequate amount of water to excrete your bodies waste. Not enough can lead to constipation and other digestive issues.
- It lubricates your joints - its part of the fluid to lubricate your joints including the discs in your spinal cord which are 80% water. Continued lack of water can reduce the shock absorption and lead to joint pain.
- Adequate hydration levels can boost your mood and increase energy!
How much water do I need to drink?
Water is part of many whole foods that you should be consuming so if your diet is full of fresh natural foods (vegetables and fruits) then only 80% needs to come from drinking water.
An easy formula is:
1litre of water for every 25kg of bodyweight
EG 75kg bodyweight = 3 litres of water
80% of 3 litres = 2.4litres
Now you have an idea of how much you should drink, my question to you again is do you think you drink enough water?
If not then gradually add some to your day. An increase in water intake will result initially in more trips to the toilet but your body will quickly adapt.
My last point on water intake is to say that whenever possible consume filtered clean water and out of a glass vessel.
Invest in a water filter for your drinking water, anything from a standard Brita filter to a home filtration system.
Your body is relying on you drinking enough water to help with optimum health, you should provide it with the best quality water otherwise your body will be spending more time filtering out the impurities you are consuming.
We hope you find this beneficial, It's something that you can implement today and will put you on the road to better health.