14/06/2021
The sun is out, the down jackets are in the cupboard and the heating is off! Let’s hope it’s here to stay.
We all know we need water to stay alive, but we need it for far more than that – we need it to thrive.
Dehydration, even the smallest amount, can contribute to fatigue, poor concentration, constipation, headaches, and inflammation.
Nailing your water intake can be harder than it sounds so here are my Top Ten Tips staying hydrated:
1. As soon as you get up have a big glass of water. Your kidneys (and more) will appreciate it.
2. In these summer months, keep a container of water in the fridge. Make it more interesting by chopping up strawberries, oranges, or lemons and throwing some in. Or add herbs.
3. You can also make up a “batch” of herbal tea of your choice, allow it to cool, and keep it in a jug in the fridge.
4. At work, keep a bottle on your desk during the day and be aware of how much you drink. You can buy some great glass bottles with protective covers so you’re not constantly guzzling chemicals from plastic or by BPA-free bottles.
5. Drink more in the first part of the day so you’re not on the toilet all night.
6. Don’t forget that some foods contain lots of water so these can all help in keeping us hydrated. Good examples are cucumber, celery, broccoli, peppers, spinach, and melon.
7. Don’t drink lots with main meals. This can dilute stomach acid and digestive enzymes and you can end up with poorly digested food and bloating. Leave 30 mins either side.
8. Caffeine is a diuretic so too much of it will leave you dehydrated. If you have coffee, have water alongside.
9.If you find water really boring, use a small amount of fruit juice as you would diluting juice. You can gradually reduce this so that you are having far more water than juice.
10. Make yourself a smoothie with a mixture of vegetables, fruit, and water or coconut water. Coconut water is full of electrolytes, which can really help with hydration.
