The importance of water and staying hydrated has been brought up consistently throughout this blog, and there really is no end to just how good it is to one’s overall health and well-being. Sadly, it is also something many of us forget or fail to do. Ironic, given that the world’s focus on all things health related has never been more prevalent than in recent years. Yet, the number of people who fail to meet their daily quotas on a regular basis is still quite astonishing!

How often do you hear yourself, and others, saying things like ‘I feel exhausted today!’ despite having had enough sleep? Or wondering why your headache just won’t go away? Or dealing with what many of us call that incessant ‘morning fog’? – The answer is most likely that you are not getting enough water!

Did you know that water makes up the majority of our body weight? And did you also know that pretty much everything we do causes our body to lose water as well? Things like sweating through exercise or just walking in the heat, eating salty foods and drinking diuretics, such as tea and coffee. This is why it is important for us to be mindful and constantly replenish our body’s water content, keeping us regular, alert and of course, to help us flush out toxins.

Failure to do so however will result in an imbalance in your body’s biochemistry, leading to some not-so-great feelings

Symptoms of Dehydration

• Headaches
• Lethargy/Fatigue
• Poor concentration and focus
• Bad mood
• Poor gut health and bloating

Luckily, this can all be reversed – easy, right? Well, maybe not at first. If drinking enough water is not something you’re used to, then getting into the habit is usually not as straightforward as one would think. And of course, many of us make the mistake of going through the day with just a few sips here and there, only to chug down a gallon later in the day leading to discomfort and not to mention, interrupted sleep. Needless to say, this method is most definitely not sustainable.

So, what exactly should we be doing?

6 Easy Ways to Help us Drink more Water

1. Sip throughout the day: invest in a cool water bottle or two and set an intention to hit at least 2 litres of water per day, perhaps more if you exercise heavily. This will take some getting used to, and might seem hard at first, in which case maybe aim for a minimum of 1.5 litres to begin with and work your way up to 2 from there. Once you start to feel the benefits, you will automatically be more inclined to keep it up.
2. Make it yummy: If you’re one of those people that finds water tedious or doesn’t like the taste, then make it interesting with some nutritious flavour enhancers. The most common is lemon, but you can add things like oranges, berries, cucumbers, fresh mint turmeric, cinnamon and so on. The possibilities here are endless. Alternatively, you can also keep a helping of your favourite herbal tea on hand and drink that in place of plain water – provided that they are caffeine-free.
3. Set Reminders: If you still find yourself going long stretches without drinking, then maybe it’s time to start setting a reminder, either through an app or alarm reminding you to take a few sips every 30 or so minutes. Though I wouldn’t recommend this to begin with, as it can be annoying and maybe even off-putting, I would suggest it if you are consistently not meeting your goals, or falling short by a lot.
4. Drink a glass of water first thing in the morning and one glass before each meal: This routine will immediately give your gut and metabolism a nice boost and is an effective way of making sure you’re getting at least half your daily requirement. Also, sometimes we mistake feelings of thirst for hunger, so having a glass before your meal is a good way to gauge whether or not you are actually hungry or just thirsty.
5. Swap out your other drinks for water: if you’re prone to having juice or soda with your meal or at some point during the day, start swapping them out for a glass of water instead. Don’t like the sound of that? Maybe add in your favourite flavour enhancer as listed above. Still not feeling it? Then maybe opt for sparkling water instead to begin with, as some recent research has suggested that they are also as hydrating as still water and definitely a better alternative to any soda or sugary drink you are in the habit of having. To learn more, check out this link: 6 Sparkling Water Myths: Does It Hydrate You? – Advanced Mixology
6. Always have it with you: It is easy to forget things when they are not in front of you, the whole ‘out of sight, out of mind’ theory. So, when it comes to drinking enough water, it helps to have it where you can see it; therefore, always have your water-bottle on hand, keep a bottle or glass next to your bed at all times, invest in a filter, making drinking water even more accessible to you and whenever you arrive at a restaurant or café, always order a bottle of water before anything else.

It is important to also remember NOT to wait until you are thirsty, because by that point you are already dehydrated. In order to feel the benefits of regular and adequate water consumption, it should be consumed throughout the day as a means of sustaining oneself, and not as a thirst quencher.

If you’re one of many and are trying to increase your daily water intake, give these tips a go. Trust me, once you start to feel the effects; more energy, better sleep, good mood, no bloat… etc, it will start to feel like second nature!

Please share any tips and tricks that have worked for you!

Check out yufeed for our Watermelon & Feta Salad for a light, delicious and hydrating recipe.