Hello, Hydration 💦
Water is one of the most important things that our bodies need to function properly. Of course, drinking enough water is also something that many of us struggle to keep up with. We get it; it isn’t always easy to make sure that you’re getting enough of that fresh H20 every day… But making a few habit changes and ensuring that you have enough water getting into your system can have an amazing impact on your daily life and body function!
Your bod needs water:
to transport water-soluble nutrients to organs around the body
to transport toxins and waste products out of the body via urine
to send electrical messages between cells – e.g., to allow organs to function, muscles to contract and relax, and eyes to focus on images
to control our body temperature
to digest food and drink
Before we go any further, let’s figure out how much water your body needs every day. To determine your baseline water intake, divide your current weight by 2; this is the approximate number of ounces of water you need to be drinking daily. Convert this to litres to make it a little easier to keep track!
Find yourself getting dehydrated regularly? Don’t wait until you’re gasping for a sip of water and your mouth feels dry - at this point, you may already be dehydrated! To avoid this, try and drink your 10-12 ounces of water every hour or so BEFORE you even feel thirsty. Tip: have a drink of water during various stages throughout the day to set up a routine (ie. when you wake up in the morning, before every meal, when you sit down to work - you get the picture!)
How can you tell if you’re dehydrated? Common symptoms of dehydration include:
Headaches
Fatigue and Irritability
Poor Concentration Levels
Mental Confusion
Loss of Appetite
Dizziness
Nausea
Constipation
Dark-Coloured Urine
AKA none of the things we want to be dealing with! Stay hydrated to avoid slowing down as a result of a lack of H20.
Need a little help to ensure you’re getting enough water throughout the day? Sign up for wellbe’s 30-day #drinkmorewater hydration challenge (kicking off June 1st) and keep these tips in mind:
Heading out for the day? Bring a large {insulated if you prefer cold water!} water bottle with you and keep it refilled!
Add a little flavour to your water. Use different fruits, vegetables and herbs to add a little something-something when you get bored of regular water.
Remind yourself! If you have trouble keeping up with your water intake, set reminders on your phone or use an app that will help you keep track.
Eat more foods that are high in water. There are plenty of fruits and vegetables that have a high water content, like lettuce, celery, zucchini and watermelon. Try reaching for these when you need a quick snack.
Let’s get that H20 💦