How much water should we actually drink each day? Drinking enough water is very important for our health, find some tips on how to increase how much water you drink.
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I forget to drink enough water each day. I’m working on drinking enough water each day as a new daily habit. I now carry a water bottle with me pretty much everywhere I go.
Around 60% of our body is made up of water. Sufficient water is essential for good health and bodily functions such as digestion and temperature regulation. Even mild dehydration can cause impairments in bodily function and is a common cause of headaches and migraines.
How Much Water Should You actually drink in a day?
I remember there always used to be the advice to drink six to eight glasses a day for good health. However is that how much we should actually be drinking? According to the government nutrient reference values, the suggested standard quantities to drink are 10 cups of water a day for the average adult male and 8 cups of water for the average adult female.
It’s worth bearing in mind that the correct amount needed will actually vary from person to person, depending on height, weight, sex, medical conditions, activity levels and physical location. Someone who is very active or someone who lives in very hot climates will need more water than someone who does not.
Other beverages such as tea, coffee and juice can count towards your fluid intake as well. However a drink of water is definitely a better choice to make than say a can of soft drink. Also remember that food, particularly fruits and vegetables, are also a source of fluid.
Easy Ways to increase the amount of water you drink each day:
Carry a water bottle with you – taking a water bottle with you wherever you go means that you can sip on water throughout the day. The water bottle is also a great visual reminder to drink some water.
I often use insulated water bottles, especially in summer, so the water stays cold and fresh throughout the day.
Drink a glass of water before or with every meal – Drinking water can help aid the digestion process and if you need to lose weight for health reasons, there was a study that said drinking water before eating might even help with weight loss.
Set reminders and track your intake – If you need a bit more prompting to drink water and to keep track of how much you’ve consumed, then you could use a diary or planner or an app on your phone to record your water intake. There are quite a few health and fitness apps available that you can use to track your water consumption and you can even set them to remind you to drink water regularly.
Flavour your water – If you’re not a massive fan of water, adding some flavour like citrus slices or mint to your water might encourage you to drink more.
Drink water as soon as you wake – Keep a water bottle or a glass of water beside your bed and drink water as soon as you wake up. This helps rehydrate your body after a night’s sleep and also aids your digestive system’s processes.
