DO YOU DRINK ENOUGH WATER?
Our body compromises of approximately 60% water, and it is crucial for most bodily functions.
Staying hydrated is extremely important for your overall health and especially important around menopause, where declining oestrogen levels can lead to reduced moisture in our tissues.
Drinking more water is one of the simplest lifestyle change that most midlife women can adopt. Ask any woman, and most will admit that they do not drink enough fluids. Ladies, we are not talking about alcohol here.
Dehydration occurs when we do not drink adequate amounts of water, leading to mood swings, dry skin, headaches, bladder problems, constipation, muscle cramps and fatigue.
Stop worrying about going to the loo so often. It’s an essential bodily process of elimination of toxins and waste. What’s the colour of your urine? If it’s not pale straw-coloured, then you need to get more hydrated. But it’s not just water. Did you know that around 20 percent of our water comes from the food we eat, especially fruits and vegetables?
The benefits of being hydrated
Drinking water helps to keep our brain functioning, improving our skin, hair mood, digestion, and help with energy and concentration levels. Water eliminates toxins and reduces urinary and bladder irritation, and it can reduce the intensity and frequency of headaches, ease muscle cramps and stiff joints.
Drinking sufficient water regulates temperature, and you may find it reduces the frequency of hot flushes and night sweats. If you are still feeling peckish after a meal, you might be thirsty; drinking water can also reduce your sugar cravings.
Top 5 tips to increase hydration:
Adults should drink 1.5 –2 litres of water a day, more obviously if it’s hot, you are exercising or tend to sweat a lot. But how can you ensure you are getting enough?
Kick start your day and metabolism with warm lemon juice and ginger drink or cold water with mint and cucumber. In a hurry, have a hydrating smoothie for breakfast.
Keep a 500ml or 1-litre bottle at your desk, in your car, around the house or wherever you spend time. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to get into the habit of sipping some water. If you are sat at your desk all day, get up, stretch your legs and get yourself a glass of water or herbal tea,
Fizzy or bottled water is fine if you don’t like tap water, but tap water is perfectly acceptable, like herbal tea or black decaf coffee.
Try and drink a glass of water before each meal, but not during it; too much water at mealtimes can impact your digestion.
Fed up with water? Try some fruit that is high in water, like pineapples, peaches, strawberries, oranges, and all types of melon. Try a salad with celery, cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, and courgette ribbons, some homemade broccoli or tomato, and red pepper soup, or add cauliflower, spinach, and mushrooms to your curries and casseroles.
Water truly is the gift of nature; it is cheap, easy to access, and does fantastic things for your body, so make sure that you take full advantage of the amazing gift of water and keep drinking – you will feel the benefits.
