If you didn't know already, staying hydrated is SO important!! Being hydrated helps to increase your energy levels, improve your digestion and support your body to function more efficiently.
Not drinking enough can cause your body to become dehydrated - surprise surprise - and signs of this goes well beyond you simply feeling thirsty. Even mild de-hydration can result in headaches, fatigue, weakness, constipation and dizziness!
Doesn't sound like fun hey? I mean if that's not enough to almost scare you into drinking water...I don't know what is haha
But exactly how much water should you be drinking? This is the big question...
In my BARE Guide, which has been approved by my in-house dietitian, I recommend consuming 2–2.5 litres of fluids each day, primarily from water.
However, it's important to keep in mind that these are general guidelines, as fluid requirements can vary according to gender, age, activity level and climate. When you sweat you lose fluid, therefore it is important that you consume more fluids when you are exercising or when you are in hot climates.
If you're not drinking enough water, you can start drinking more by...
Increasing your daily intake over time! Don't feel like you have to start forcing it all down at once, especially if you're not used to consuming 2-2.5 litres. Gradual changes are easier to achieve and are way more likely to become long-lasting habits.
Still struggling to drink water? Here's a couple of things you can do!
Try adding fresh fruit, such as sliced lemon, lime or fresh berries, to your water for extra flavour OR enjoy more herbal teas! My favourites include ginger, berry and peppermint - you can even are ice for a cool version for summer!
As with anything, the best thing you can do is listen to your body. If you feel thirsty, don't simply ignore that signal from your body but go get a glass of water instead. You can even set a reminder to go off on your phone to help remind you!
The first step is to go grab that first glass of water! After reading this you probably need it haha
Leah xx
