What’s the importance of hydration? And how much water does our body really need through different activities? I answer these common questions about your hydration needs in my latest article.
What are our hydration needs?
‘I drink at least 1L of water per day, that’s so much’, is often what I hear from a lot of clients. Don’t get me wrong, 1L is a lot but still not enough to meet your hydration needs.
According to Nutrition Australia, healthy hydration is more than double that. A normal day should see adult men taking in about 2.6 L per day and women about 2.1 L per day. Many things will vary these requirements, such as pregnancy, breastfeeding, season and age.
Why is hydration so important?
- It benefits your cognition, concentration and productivity, which is important in the workplace and at school, even whilst driving safely.
- It’s important for your bowels, being adequately hydrated mean your stools are soft and can pass easily.
- It helps your kidneys to function effectively and flush out toxins.
- It’s important for sports performance. A lot of research has found being just 2% dehydrated means you only perform to 85% of your ability. So for those athletes currently in Rio in warm conditions, hydration is something they will definitely be staying on top of!
There are other fluid sources that will help you hydrate including tea, coffee, cordial, juice etc. But water is the best option! Something else that can help your body hydrate is adding some electrolytes to your water every now and then. You can do this by using products such as Hydralyte or Nuun (this is not a sponsored post, they are just simply some of the options!).
If you find it difficult to consume enough water or often forget during the day – make sure you have a big glass with every meal. Also, carry a water bottle around with you during the day. Or even setting an alarm on your phone or a reminder on your computer telling you to drink water can be effective!
Happy Friday everyone, and stay hydrated!
