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Drinking water and staying hydrated is a crucial part of keeping happy and healthy. From dehydration to digestion issues and even mood swings, the impact of not getting enough water is big. In this blog, we’re exploring all the amazing benefits of staying hydrated, as well as exploring why it’s crucial when you’re on a weight loss journey.
Right, first things first, let’s dive into how much water you should be drinking and why.
How much should I drink?
It’s a big question, and it all depends on you and your lifestyle. As a rule, you should drink enough to keep your pee light yellow in colour. But, if you do a lot of exercise or are breastfeeding, you may need to drink more to compensate for any water lost. As a rule of thumb, aim to drink 2 to 2.5 litres of fluid a day, which is around 8 glasses.
What should I drink?
Water is always the best choice, but we know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. If you’re not a fan of water, why not mix it up by brewing yourself a fruity or herbal tea, or maybe trying out one of our delicious water flavourings. We’ve even had a professional mixologist turn our water flavourings into mouth-watering mocktails, including the Berry Bloomer mocktail.
Here are our top 5 tips for staying hydrated throughout the day:
1. Wake up first thing in the morning and drink a glass or two of water – most people are least hydrated in the morning!
2. Carry a water bottle around with you all day. Don’t leave your house without it and simply refill every time it’s empty
3. Drink 500mL (1/2 litre) of water 30 minutes before meals – specific scientific studies have shown that this supports weight loss
4. Drink water when you think you’re hungry. If you feel a hunger pang between meals, pour yourself a tall glass of fresh drinking water first to see if you’re dehydrated. Sometimes people think they’re hungry when really, they’re just thirsty
5. Drink water before, during and after a workout. Drinking water during a workout can help your endurance and energy levels, giving you enough to see your exercise through to the end. Plus it will replace any water you lost through perspiration or water vapour lost from breathing.
Now we know how much we should be drinking, let’s look into all of the amazing benefits of staying hydrated.
1. Water is The 1:1 Diet Essential
Here at The 1:1 Diet we’re big fans of drinking lots of water. Not only are there plenty of health benefits, it’s also great at keeping your metabolism ticking over.
Plus, with the rapid weight loss, an accelerated release of toxins from fat stores occurs and the liver and kidneys have to step up their game to eliminate these safely from the body. Better hydration ensures that this process doesn’t get held up.
2. Hydration Helps Keep Your Skin Glowing
By keeping yourself hydrated, you’ll help to maintain your skin’s elasticity. As you grow older, it’s harder for your body (and skin) to retain water, so you need to be more mindful as time goes on. The benefits? It’s been said that those who drink more are less likely to struggle with wrinkles, soft lines and many other signs of ageing.
3. Joints Feel Healthier
As well as helping to keep your skin gorgeous, drinking water also helps to keep your joints happy. That’s because the cartilage found in your joints and the discs of the spine contains around 80% water. Long term, if you’re not drinking enough you could end up reducing your joints’ ability to absorb shock, sometimes leaving you in pain.
4. Happier digestion
Your bowel needs water and fluid to keep it working properly. Dehydration can leave you constipated and with an overly acidic stomach, increasing the risk of heartburn and stomach ulcers.
5. Keep your mind sharp
Dehydration can really impact your brain and how it functions - including your energy levels and ability to focus.
In fact, in a study of young women, researchers found that fluid loss of 1.4% after exercise impaired both mood and concentration. It also increased the frequency of headaches. So, if you’re feeling foggy and tired, reach for a tall glass of ice cold water.
So, there you have it: everything you need to know about hydration and why it’s so important you stay hydrated throughout the day. Right, shall we pour ourselves an ice cold, refreshing drink?
Ready to start your weight loss journey? Find a local Consultant or order a Taster Pack to give our yummy products a go.