Staying Hydrated (How To Do It And Why It Is So Important)
Did you know that the adult human body is 60 percent water? Our lungs consist of a staggering 83 percent water, and even our bones seem watery at 31 percent.
Unsurprisingly, staying hydrated plays a vital role in our health and allows the body to carry out its many processes.
But what makes hydration so important, and how can we start drinking more water right away?
Let’s discuss.
The Crucial Importance of Staying Hydrated
One of the most notable benefits of drinking enough water relates to how you feel and how well you can perform in your training. Staying hydrated makes you feel better, improves your mood, boosts your cognition, and allows you to push yourself. In contrast, dehydration often leads to brain fog, impaired athletic ability, and, in many cases––headaches.
On the same note, if you often experience headaches around noon or in the afternoon and don’t drink much water in the morning, you might be dehydrated. A simple way to test this theory is to drink two to three glasses of water the next time you experience a headache and wait for 30 to 60 minutes.
Adequate hydration is also beneficial for weight loss because drinking water can help you feel fuller and reduce the risk of overeating. In some cases, drinking a glass of water before your meal can help you feel fuller on fewer calories. Plus, water is beneficial for digestion, so it’s a win-win.
As far as quantity goes, there are numerous recommendations, ranging from around two liters of water to four, even five. How much water you need will depend on your sex, size, age, activity level, the climate of your country, and how much you sweat. On average, men should drink up to 3.5 liters per day, and women – 2.5 liters.
How to Stay Hydrated With Three Simple Tactics
- Keep a Water Jug Around You
Having a water jug around you is one of the best ways to ensure that you’re drinking more water. For one, a jug provides all the water you’ll need for the day, saving you countless trips to the kitchen or water dispenser at work. Second, you can fill the jug with the amount of water you want to drink in a day, making it easy to track your progress.
- Use a Simple Phone App To Remind You
Aside from having a water jug, the next best thing to improve your hydration is to use a simple phone app as a reminder. There are plenty of apps on the App Store and Google Play. Download one you find fitting and set it up to remind you every 30 or 40 minutes. Once it goes off, sip some water and go about your day.
- Take a Small Bottle On The Go
Water jugs are great, but what if you move around all day? In that case, we recommend taking a small water bottle and carrying it with you. Whether in the car, on the bike, or taking a walk with some friends, having water with you is crucial for staying hydrated.
