Are You Drinking Enough Water?

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Did you know by the time you’re feeling thirsty, then you’re already dehydrated …

Dehydration means there is a reduction in your body’s natural water content, resulting in the imbalance of salt and minerals in our system says the NHS. This imbalance can signal to the brain that we are hungry, making you want to reach for something indulgently salty or sweet rather than water!

We all know drinking water is tedious, we’ve brainstormed 5 ways to make the all-important task of water drinking a little less of a drag.

 

Add fruit and vegetables to your water …

Cucumber is a favourite and contains the vitamin B-5 which aids the breakdown of protein, carbohydrates and fats in the body. You can vary this by adding half a squeezed lemon, which among many health benefits aids digestion. Or make it pretty and fragrant by adding slices of fruit, herbs and even edible flowers.

 

Try the trendy alternative – coconut water …

While coconut water only contains 46 calories a glass, is rich in potassium and is fat free, it’s sweet and refreshing and likely to bring your salt and sugar levels into balance after feeling dehydrated. Just portion-control your intake alongside natural plain non-fizzy water.

 

Reconsider your coffee routine …

Coffee contains caffeine which is a known diuretic. This means that your cup of coffee in the morning might be causing you to lose fluids faster without being absorbed. To prevent potential dehydration later in the day because of this, why not try drinking a glass of water before your coffee?

 

Eat your water …

If you really can’t stand water, why not compromise by having a little but then focus on some hydrating foods too? According to BUPA some of your favourite salad vegetables are almost completely made of water. For example: tomatoes contain 94%, cucumbers and lettuce contain 96% water!

 

Label your water bottle …

If you lead a busy lifestyle and often forget to drink up, keep a tally of how much you’re drinking by drawing lines on your water bottle. For example, if you are aiming to drink 1 litre of water at work draw lines at 250 ml intervals on your bottle, writing next to it the hour at which you need to have that 250 ml drunk by.

 

Feature courtesy of www.janeplan.com