Tips for staying hydrated

It’s Nutrition and Hydration week and so given the current warm weather I wanted to share some tips on making sure you are well hydrated. Every cell in our body needs water to carry out it’s processes and so it really is essential for optimal health. Adequate hydration can help:

• Reduce tiredness
• Flush toxins out of the body
• Prevent constipation
• Keep our immune system working well
• Prevent headaches
• Support our immune system
• Keep our skin healthy.

To get these benefits we need to be drinking 6 to 8 glasses of fluid a day. This can be water, herbal teas, soups or smoothies. I don’t include tea or coffee in this count as the caffeine in them can have a negative impact on the body.

Try to avoid having squash or cordial as these often come with sugars or sweeteners and artificial colours and flavorings.

We can often forget to drink if we are busy, so here are a few tips to help you get your 6 to 8 glasses of fluid in a day:

1. Have a glass or water on your bedside table, so that first thing in the morning you can have a drink of water. This is really good for anyone who is prone to constipation.
   
2. Get a marked water bottle and have it on your desk at work or carry it out with you so that you can check if you are on track with your water consumption. Go for glass or stainless steel water bottles, so you are not absorbing any hormone disrupting chemicals from plastic water bottles.
   
3. Sometimes we get bored with water or want something different, so mix things up a bit. Try adding mint leaves, strawberries, cucumber, lemon, lime or orange slices to your water to give it some flavour and make it different.
   
4. Have some herbal teas during the day, particularly if you want a warm drink. Chamomile, mint or lemon and ginger are all good ones to try, but there are so many different varieties of herbal tea available now. You can also make extra tea, cool it and then have it as iced tea in the summer.
   
5. Have soup at lunchtime and then you have got in another glass of fluids, along with extra fruit and vegetables.
   
6. Try smoothies either for breakfast or as an afternoon pick you up. As well as adding to your fluid intake, this is also adding to your fruit and vegetable intake.

Soon you’ll be well on the way to your 6 to 8 glasses of fluid a day and feeling better for it.

For soup and smoothies recipe ideas have a look on my website.

Content Disclaimer

The information contained above is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this blog  are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this blog. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this blog. Emma Belton Nutrition disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this blog.