Water accounts for 60% of the human body and performs several essential functions including regulating body temperature, keeping joints lubricated, preventing infections, delivering nutrients to cells and helping to keep organs functioning properly.
Staying well hydrated also helps to boost our energy levels. Herbal teas, water, and non-caffeinated drinks all count towards your daily hydration. Depending on the weather and your activity levels, the amount of fluid you need each day may vary.
Here are a few suggestions to keep you well hydrated:
- Drink fluids before you are thirsty. By the time you are thirsty, your body is already dehydrated! A good way to determine how hydrated you are is to check the colour of your urine; the darker the colour, the more you need to drink water, whereas a light straw colour means you are well hydrated.
- Eat your water. Although most of your fluid intake is through water and beverages, you can get some fluids through the foods you eat. Around 20% of our daily water intake is from food. Soups and broths and high-water fruits and vegetables such as melons, pineapple, tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumbers can all contribute.
- Add some flavour. Not a fan of plain water? Just add some flavour by adding fresh lemon/lime/orange slices or freeze the slices and they double up as flavoured ice cubes to keep your water cold.