Hydrate to Live a Healthier Life
Water is essential for life and has many benefits to our health. It helps maintain hydration, weight and healthy skin. It also aids in digestion, helps with the absorption of nutrients, and supports the immune system. In fact, the human body is made up of about 60% water meaning hydration is key to maintaining good health.
Interestingly, it’s also important to stay hydrated to maintain optimal brain performance. The human brain is made up of nearly 80% water and the rest consists of fat and protein. Our brains are sensitive to dehydration, which can lead to fatigue, headaches, confusion, and difficulty concentrating.
The recommended water intake needed for daily hydration is not a fixed number. It can be different for different people and depends on factors like age, weight, types of food consumed and physical activity levels. A rough estimate is that one needs to drink 2 litres of water per day.
As we transition to the warmer months where most of our summer is spent outdoors, here are some tips on how to stay hydrated.
- Drink a glass of water when you first wake up
- A quality, good-looking water bottle is a visual reminder to drink more water throughout the day
- This will also be helpful to have handy when you are exercising to replenish water lost through sweating
- Set a daily goal and encourage your friends to join in
You can also choose to eat meals filled with fruits and vegetables that are high in water content. For example, these percentages show roughly how water-rich the following fruit and vegetables are:
- Watermelon is 92% water
- Cucumber is 96% water
- Broccoli is 90% water
- Tomato is 94% water
- Orange is 86% water
Staying hydrated is a vital component of living a healthier life. We hope these healthy hydration tips will help you to keep hydrated as we enter Summer and start to spend a lot more time outdoors in the sunshine.
