We are enjoying some lovely warm weather here in London so I thought I would share some interesting information on this wonderful source of natural goodness and why we should be drinking plenty of it.
Keeping hydrated is so crucial for our health and well-being. Our bodies are made up of 60% water and without it we cannot function at our full potential.
We can survive weeks without food, but only days without water, and research has shown a staggering amount of us are not getting enough.
Understanding why it is so good for you will hopefully encourage you to drink a few more glasses today. I believe it is one of the best healthy habits you can have.
Below are some amazing reasons why you should be drinking more water:
❖ It delivers nutrients to the brain and removes any toxins, resulting in better concentration and mental alertness.
❖ It helps to create saliva which is essential for breaking down food and keeping your mouth healthy.
❖ It flushes body waste, preventing constipation, and helps your kidneys to filter waste too, preventing kidney stones.
❖ It aids digestion and helps with nutrient absorption. It dissolves vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in your food and delivers those vitamin components to the rest of your body.
❖ It cushions your brain, protects your joints, spinal cord and tissues.
❖ It allows cells to grow, reproduce and survive.
❖ It improves your blood oxygen and circulation to your entire body and helps to lower high blood pressure levels.
❖ It boosts energy and performance during exercise.
❖ It hydrates your skin, resulting in a healthy-looking complexion.
❖ It helps to clear airways (people suffering from asthma and allergies), when we are dehydrated our airways are more restricted.
❖ It helps to relieve tension and headaches.
The recommended minimum daily amount is 2 litres, and more if you are exercising regularly. It sounds like a lot, but with some practice you can make it become a healthy habit and I promise you will notice a difference.
If you prefer not to drink plain water, try adding some natural flavours like freshly squeezed lemon, fresh mint, or cucumber.
❖ You can also enjoy foods which are high in water to assist in your daily intake. Some of these foods include: Watermelon, strawberries, oranges, peaches, grapefruit, cucumber, lettuce, zucchini celery, tomatoes, peppers, cauliflower and cabbage.
Drinking caffeinated coffee and tea, unfortunately, does not contribute to your daily water intake because the caffeine counteracts the water, as it is a diuretic.
A couple of my personal tips which I do daily:
❖ Start the day right. In the evening I squeeze the juice of two fresh lemons into 1-litre of filtered water, place it on my bedside table ready to drink as soon as I wake up. This kick starts my metabolism for the day and helps to cleanse any toxins too.
❖ During the day I enjoy de-caffeinated herbal teas which are tasty and they also contribute to my water intake.
❖ I carry a reusable water bottle with me wherever I go, it reminds me to drink and helps me to keep a mental note of my daily intake.
I hope these tips help and if you haven’t been a big water drinker, start small, and increase week-by-week. I promise you will start to notice a difference.
I would love to hear your water drinking tips too, so please comment below!
Thank you for reading,
Aimee x