The Importance of Hydration
Water is essential for life. Your body is nearly two-thirds water, so therefore it is very important that you consume enough fluids. According to Harvard Medical School (2015), drinking fluids is crucial to staying healthy and maintaining the functions of every system in your body, for example, your brain, heart and muscles. As an overview, the fluids in your body transport nutrients to your cells, prevent constipation and flush bacteria from your bladder. ‘Fluids’ include not only water from the tap or a bottle, but other fluids that contain water such as tea, soft drinks and milk. Food also contributes to your fluid intake, contributing around 20% to your total fluid intake.
As well as the examples stated above for body functions, water and sufficient fluid levels have many other health benefits to help you feel younger and healthier. Other examples are listed below:
Healthier teeth & bones
Healthier mind & body
Healthier digestive system
Increases exercise performance
Aids weight loss
How much fluid do you need?
‘Do I really need to drink 8 glasses of water on top of all my other drinks?’
‘Is it true that tea and coffee do not count towards my fluid intake?’
Answers to both questions above are no, according to the British Nutrition Foundation. The amount of fluid depends on factors such as physical activity level, weather and age. European recommendations suggest 2L of fluid per day for men (about 10 x 200ml glasses), and 1.6L per day for women (about 8 x 200ml glasses). It is recommended to try drinking water, but the point is that other fluids will contribute to your hydration levels. However, stay away from energy, fizzy, and alcoholic drinks when trying to hydrate. Also, be aware of fruit juices, smoothies and soft drinks as they may contain high levels of sugar.
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