Are you drinking enough water?

Water is absolutely essential to the life, growth and maintenance of our bodies. Most of us become dehydrated throughout the day without even realising it. This can be caused by a number of factors but most obviously by not drinking enough pure water. Caffeine and alcohol consumption is also a big factor along with central heating or air conditioning.

Our bodies are made up of 70% water so it’s hardly surprising that dehydration can be the cause of some health complaints such as migraines, asthma and constipation. The major muscles in our body also do not function properly without sufficient water, without regularly topping up our water intake this can lead to stiff hips and lower back pain.

The recommended intake is around 2.5 litres a day of pure water. You should however drink more if you have consumed caffeine, if its a hot day or if exercise has been involved. The best way to tell that you are drinking enough is by the colour of your urine. The lighter it is the more hydrated you are. Start off by having a glass of water as soon as you wake up as your body loses water while you are sleeping. Keep topping up your intake through the day but try not to drink so much with a meal as it interferes with digestion. It is also better ingested at room temperature than ice cold as ice cold water can affect your metabolism. I always keep a bottle with my while I am working at the beauty salon so I am constantly sipping away at it, it becomes easier to drink those extra litres than you think!

So try and make drinking more water a new year’s resolution, you’ll be surprised how much better you will feel, how much more your skin will glow and how much more energy you will have!