Even in England, we all know that once it hits April we begin experiencing warmer weather. One thing we tend to forget which becomes even more important when the sun comes out is staying hydrated. I speak to a lot of students who say it can get to lunchtime before they realise they haven’t had any water!
So what if I don’t drink a lot I hear you ask?
Hydration levels can affect how alert you are and how well you concentrate in your lectures, not to mention how well you perform when playing sports. When we become dehydrated we can experience headaches, feel lightheaded and have a lack of energy. Ever had a hangover? Yes? That’s because you became dehydrated. Next time you go out, have a glass of water every hour or so to keep hydrated.
How much should I be drinking in a day then?
Our bodies are made up of around 70% water so to maintain those levels, you should aim to drink at least 1.2 litres on average, every day (that’s just over two bottles of Life Water a day). You can help maintain these levels by getting your water intake from surprise surprise…water –still, sparkling or flavoured with fruit, milk, fruit juices (in moderation- up to 150ml a day) fruit squashes and tea and coffee. It’s important to remember that in addition to actually drinking it, we absorb water through the food that we consume for example fresh fruits and vegetables. Even more of a reason to eat your 5 a day!
How do we lose water from our body?
We lose water most notably from sweating after physical activity but we also lose water from going to the toilet and breathing. Sometimes we lose up to 2.5 litres of water every day – crazy right?
What are the benefits of drinking more?
There’s so many, we don’t know where to start! Here are just a few:
- Increased concentration
- Higher energy levels
- Increased alertness
- Beauty e.g. it can help to clear your skin and improve hair and nail growth
We think that’s enough to motivate us to increase our water intake, we hope it motivates you to!
Speak soon,
Grace
