So we live in Ireland where the climate isn't always amazing, but we've got lucky recently with plenty of sun-filled skies. While most of us are quick to swap the trousers for shorts and pop on the sunnies and sandals, we're often not as quick to up our water intake. But higher temperatures means dehydration is more likely. So staying hydrated is more important than ever. Even mild dehydration can be a big issue. Today we're taking a look at why staying hydrated is so important - why you should be filling up that water bottle (again and again)...
Why do we need to drink more water?
Did you know that the average human body Is 75% water? So we need to be keeping it topped up with plenty of water to avoid dehydration, particularly on hot days. Dehydration affects many of us especially those of us who like to keep active. It’s massively important to maintain hydration levels during the day.
The best way to achieve this is by sipping on water regularly throughout the day rather than getting to the stage where you feel thirsty. When you reach that stage, chances are your body is already dehydrated. This can lead to fatigue, muscle weakness, dizziness and other issues.
Staying Hydrated: Why It's So Important
Why should we be filling up that water bottle yet again? Staying hydrated is so important for lots of reasons. Here's a few of them...
Weight Loss
A lot of the time when we think we're hungry, we are in fact just thirsty. Water is a natural appetite suppressant believe it or not. When we're dehydrated we are starving the cells of our body.
Headache
Another headache? It's time to fill up that glass. Often when we have headaches it is simply a matter of not drinking enough water.
Energy
Water is the most vital source of energy in the body. Being dehydrated can zap your energy and make you feel tired.
Healthy Skin
Drinking water can help clear up your skin and leave your skin glowing. Dehydration impairs the elimination of toxins through the skin and makes it more vulnerable to all types of skin disorders including dermatitis and psoriasis as well as premature wrinkling and aging.
Digestive Function
Another reason to stay hydrated is digestive function. Our digestive system needs an adequate amount of water to digest food properly. Water alongside fibre can help relieve and prevent constipation.
Cleansing and Kidney Health
Water is used by the body to flush out toxins and waste.
Easy Exercises
We all know it's essential to drink water when exercising. Being dehydrated can severely hinder your workouts. It can slow you down and make your workouts seem so much harder than they have to be.
Mix It Up
For those of you who don't particularly enjoy the taste of water, you can jazz things up by adding different fruits and spices to your water. We swear by adding in some fresh lime and a big piece of ginger. It makes it so much easier to reach that 2 litre per day mark. Many fruits and veggies are also very hydrating.
Checked and updated: 7 September 2021
