Tips On Staying Hydrated

So after touching on a few reasons why drinking water is so important for more than just survival – basically to function well and lead a healthy state of living, here are our top 10 simple tips on staying hydrated:

1. Start each day with a glass of water - before heading out for your morning run, or your first cup of coffee.
2. Keep a bottle of water with you all day – having something to regularly sip on is more effective than having to catch up glasses of water.
3. Keep it simple – whilst all drinks may count towards your daily intake, the sugar and chemicals in ‘processed’ drinks such as soft drinks may trigger other issues. Add freshly squeezed lemon or lime as an alternative.
4. Supplement with fresh fruit – electrolytes, essential fatty acids and minerals are also important when staying hydrated to opting for fresh juices made from high-water content fruits and vegetables supplement the body’s needs.
5. Minimise caffeine and alcohol intake – they act as diuretics and contribute to dehydration, so consume in moderation and chase with water.
6. Install water filters at home – better tasting water encourages regular drinking, and is cheaper than purchasing bottled water.
7. Cook with high-quality sea salt – a good, unrefined sea salt is rich in trace minerals, which are key to cell health and hydration.
8. When you’re feeling hungry, drink water – thirst is often confused with hunger, although true hunger will not be satisfied by water. Drinking during a meal contributes to ‘feeling full’ thereby reducing the amount you’d eat.
9. End each day with a glass of water.

And from an athlete’s perspective, this is one of the most important pieces of advise given for any type of training or competition…

    10. DON’T WAIT UNTIL YOU’RE THIRSTY – fatigue, headache and dizziness 

          may all be indicators that it’s time to rehydrate, however by the time you 

          actually feel thirsty, you’ve probably already lost a significant amount of water. 

         Allowing this negatively impacts your ability to perform so it is important to 

         drink small sips regularly, as one feels.

It is important to state that conversely, new research is also being conducted on the opposite, over-hydration, which also results in negative effects. So with everything that is ingested, moderation and correct balance needs to be acquired – listen to your body!

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Sources: Experience Life, Family Doctor, The Daily Meal, Runners World