What’s The Best Way To Stay Hydrated
Water is essential for staying healthy, preventing dehydration and maintaining bodily processes. Dehydration (not drinking enough water, common in the summer) causes the blood to thicken, increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes among various other health problems. The question is, however, how much water do we need to be drinking per day? According to Gym equipment we need to drink 1.5 – 2 litres of water per day, which equates to 8-10 standard glasses.
One basic test to test your current hydration level is to examine the colour of your urine. If your urine is yellow you are dehydrated and need to take in more fluid, if it is clear then you are hydrated however should maintain the volume of water you’re consuming.
Now we know how much water to drink, what is the best way to go about staying hydrated on a daily basis? Below are some basic tips to help you stay hydrated and healthy.
- Carry a water bottle with you throughout the day
- Purchase a water bottle with a number counter
- Drink water before and after exercise
- Drink a glass of water with every meal you eat
- Drink a glass of water when you wake up and take a glass to bed with you
- Drink a glass of water at a restaurant
- Drink different flavoured water
- Avoid drinking alcohol
- Purchase a smart or appealing water bottle
- Eat foods which contain water
Carry a water bottle with you throughout the day
Carrying a water bottle with you throughout the day encourages you to drink more. This is especially useful if you have access to a water foundation to refill your bottle and measure how much water you are consuming. Drinking more water will soon become second nature and become part of your lifestyle, leading to a healthy, happier version of yourself! If this isn’t convincing enough, consider drinking water to procrastinate from your work (This one’s aimed at you students!) whilst improving your health.
Purchase a water bottle with a number counter
Water bottles can now be purchased which contain a counter. This counter measures how many times you refill your water bottle. Re-setting the counter every day allows you to accurately measure how much water you are drinking, providing an external motivator to reach the desired number per day.
Drink water before and after exercise
If exercising, it is increasingly important to remain hydrated. Since we lose water and electrolytes during exercise, dehydration is of increased risk. Therefore, drink water up to 1 hour before exercise and directly after exercise. Try weighing yourself before exercise and after exercise to determine how much water you have lost in bodyweight, finding the ideal amount that needs to be replaced. Increasing the amount of water you drink also flushes out negative toxins through exercise, speeding up your recovery and making you feel that little bit better even faster!
Drink a glass of water with every meal you eat
Creating a habit such as drinking a glass of water with every meal eaten is a simple way to increase the overall volume of water you are taking in. For example, if you eat the standard 3 meals a day that’s an extra 3 glasses of water you are consuming. Try having an extra glass if you’re eating a dessert or maybe even include it with a late night snack.
Drink a glass of water when you wake up and take a glass to bed with you
Similarly, creating a habit such as drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning allows you to start the day off right. A high portion of the population start the day off dehydrated, don’t be caught out! This is especially important if you exercise frequently, ensure you are prepared for the day by hydrating early on, leaving no challenge to pick to tackle. Similarly, take a glass of water to bed with you, you’re more likely to drink it if it’s close to you, and once again is a simple way to remain hydrated and get in the recommended amount of water per day.
Drink a glass of water at a restaurant
Drinking water at a restaurant is not only free, but it also increases the amount of water you consume. Not only does this replace alcohol (saving you the dreaded hangover) it also saves you money whilst improving your overall well-being.
Drink different flavoured water
If standard tap water isn’t your thing, why not trying mixing it up? Add a slice of lemon, cucumber, strawberries or mint. Alternatively, various supermarkets sell flavoured water which is calorie and sugar-free, although is usually more expensive.
Learning to make your own flavoured water at home can save you the hassle and the money all whilst increasing your water intake.
Avoid drinking alcohol
Alcohol is a diuretic and is known for dehydrating you, causing you the dreaded hangover. If possible, avoid drinking and lead a healthier lifestyle. Alternatively, limit the amount you drink and replace the fluid lost through water at the end of your night and throughout the night. This will ensure you wake up feeling refreshed and hopefully not hungover! This will save you both money and energy, especially in the morning.
Purchase a smart or appealing water bottle
Purchase a new water bottle which you find appealing! Whether it is functional or just pretty to look at, you are more likely to use it if you spent money on it, simple. Water bottles now come with number counters as mentioned previously, as well as advanced Bluetooth measures which connect to mobile devices to measure how much water you are consuming daily. Although these may seem unnecessary, if you struggle drinking water these can be a game-changer, with constant notifications to remind you to drink water.
Eat foods which contain water
Strangely enough, you can consume water without directly drinking it. I know, it sounds weird. Eating founds like watermelon and cucumber are high in water-content and healthy! Providing you with a healthy snack and sneaking in additional water without even noticing. These can be consumed as a snack or try adding them to a smoothie, opting for the healthier option and ultimately a healthier lifestyle.
