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Are you drinking enough water?
The majority of people in the UK are dehydrated to some extent
- In 37% of people, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger
- Lack of water is the number one trigger for daytime fatigue
- The human body is made up of 70% water - that's almost 80 pints for an average man
- Experts recommend we drink two pints (6-8 glasses) of water a day
- If you wait until you are thirsty before you drink, your body has already started to dehydrate
- Tea and coffee are both diuretics - they just make us lose more water
What happens if we don't drink enough water?
Early signs of dehydration include:
- Headache and dizziness
- Inability to concentrate
- Constipation
- Irritability
Some people deliberately cut down their fluid intake to reduce the need to use the toilet, especially overnight. But this leads to more concentrated urine, which irritates the bladder and can cause urinary tract infections and even kidney stones.
Your health - let's drink to that!
- Every morning fill a 1 pint jug with water. Drink a glassful every hour or so until it is all gone. After lunch fill the jug again and drink it steadily during the next half of the day
- If you like your water cold, keep the jug in the fridge or use a thermos
- Try replacing tea or coffee with lemon in hot water as a refreshing drink; add honey to taste. This is a good, natural way to 'clean' your system.
As time goes by …
- Fluids are essential to life. As we get older, we face increased risk of imbalance, as we begin to lose the sensation to recognise thirst.
- Drinking sufficient fluids will keep your joints healthy, maintain energy levels and aid digestion.
- Drinking other fluids
- Fluid can take a variety of forms and does not just have to be water. Some doctors say that the occasional glass of red wine or beer is good for adults.
- Other useful sources of fluid include
- fruit juices
- milk cordials
- soft drinks
- jelly
- custard
- ice cream
- soup
- sauces
But remember that some of these can be high in sugar so use them wisely.
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