Whether it’s avoiding carbs, extreme workouts or counting calories, every year brings more and more ‘miracle’ health advice which promises us a slimmer, happier version of ourselves. However, by investing time in these techniques, we may well be neglecting a simple and effective means of staying healthy: drinking water.
A healthy adult’s body will be made up of an incredible 57-60% water, with young children having an even higher rate of between 75-78%.
The water levels in our body helps to provide a wide range of important health benefits, from keeping our skin looking healthy to protecting vital organs such as the bladder, colon and breast tissue against cancer.
Some of the most vital benefits of staying hydrated can be seen in the infographic below; with a few tips on staying hydrated directly below:
Tips For Staying Hydrated
Tips for how much water we need to drink varies a lot depending on the climate; the amount of physical activity you do; whether you are ill or pregnant; and your body mass.
However, according to almost all recent studies we aren’t drinking enough water. The latest research from the Institute of Medicine recommends that men drink 3.7 litres – or about 13 cups of fluid a day, with 2.7 litres – roughly 9 cups for women. Of course, this could consist of any hydrating drink that contains water – but it’s clear we are not getting enough.
According to a recent study, 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated despite many of them drinking eight beverages a day, this was counteracted by the fact many of these were caffeinated beverages combined with a diet high in sodium.
As mentioned above dehydration can cause a range of health issues including fatigue, lack of concentration as well as more long-term issues such as heart and kidney problems. Therefore we have come up with a number of suggestions to maintain a healthy level of hydration:
- You can improve your hydration levels by eating foods with a high water content such as beetroot, celery, tomatoes, carrots, watermelon, lettuce to name just a few.
- Use a health tracking device such as a FitBit to set goals for your daily water intake.
- Make sure to adjust your water intake depending on external influences such as temperature as well as the amount of physical activity you are undertaking. Having a cold or flu or diarrhea also requires a significantly increased need for water consumption.
The Miracle Weight Loss Solution….
Whilst drinking water may not be the most glamorous ‘Insta-worthy’ diet, staying hydrated helps to maintain a healthy body weight by stimulating your metabolism which in turn aids your body in reducing fat.
In addition, drinking water also helps you to feel satiated, meaning you are less likely to snack and overeat, two of the biggest factors that cause weight gain.
So next time you are looking for a way to lose weight, why not consider the simple solution of drinking more water – and leave some other lucky person to try the cabbage soup diet!
Summary
With health benefits including maintaining healthy-looking skin; improving concentration levels; reducing stress on your heart; improving muscle and joint functionality; removing toxins from the body; stimulating your metabolism; aiding the digestive process; as well as preventing against certain types of cancer.
Cheaper than a flashy gym, and less painful than a restrictive diet; staying hydrated is a great way to improve your mental and physical wellbeing.