Water - Are you getting enough?
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Did you know that drinking plenty of water each day can significantly reduce the appearance of wrinkles?
Or help to prevent bowel cancer? Or Kidney stones?
We all know that we should drink plenty of water but for most of us it’s just not that easy!
Here’s some information about water and some techniques to make sure you get your daily amount.
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Why does our body need water?
Water is the one thing that the body cannot survive for very long without. Our bodies are, on average, made up of approximately 70% water and our survival time without water is limited to a matter of days unlike food.
How much water should we really be drinking?
The general consensus is that the average adult should consume at least 1.5 litres of water per day in liquid format which equates to six to eight glasses. Plain water is, without doubt, the best way to achieve this as all other fluids only contain a percentage of water (carbonated drinks for example are approximately 65% water whilst fruit juices are 90% water). Therefore if you wanted to achieve your water consumption solely through carbonated drinks you would need to drink another half a litre of fluid or approximately one and a half cans.
What are the benefits of drinking water?
Being properly hydrated brings numerous benefits, both physical and mental! Physically good hydration can have a dramatic effect on you appearance by;
- Reducing wrinkles
- Making skin generally look firmer and more toned
- Making your eyes look clearing and more sparkling
- Help with dieting; firstly e often eat when we’re thirsty so try a glass of water if you are hungry and secondly a large glass of water 30 minutes before you eat will make you feel fuller and therefore help you reduce your food intake
- Drinking water 30 minutes before eating (rather than whilst eating) will aid digestion.
- Drinking enough water can help to prevent kidney stones by flushing the kidneys.
Being properly hydrated will also improve your mental state, improving concentration and reducing headaches.
Being dehydrated on the other hand, which most of us are most of the time incidentally, can cause headaches, tiredness, loss of concentration, constipation and a host of other problems.
How you can improve your water intake today?
- Start each day with a large glass of water. Making water the first thing you drink in the morning will have an enormously beneficial effect on the body flushing out the toxins accumulated during the night.
- Make sure you always have water beside you whilst you work. If you are deskbound keep a glass beside you. If you work outdoors carry a bottle with you and keep sipping from it throughout the day.
- Drink a large glass of water before every meal.
- Match every unit of alcohol you have with a glass of water
- Try to only drink water for at least an hour before you go to bed.
- Keep water beside your bed so that you can take a sip if you wake up in the night.
- Try drinking two and a half litres a day for two weeks and watch how much your skin improves and see if this is enough incentive for you.
Take a look at our resources for books and information on nurtrition, diet, fitness and complementary health.
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