Water is vital for life on earth.
Our bodies are made of around 70% water, including in our brains, our skin, our blood, our lymph fluid and our other vital organs. It carries essential nutrients to every cell in our body and helps detoxify and cleanse the body. It helps our skin to glow with health and to look young and beautiful.
Whilst we can survive for around three weeks without food, we can barely make it for a few days without water.
However, even though water is so important for health, most of us aren’t drinking enough of the stuff.
We’re just too busy. Or we forget.
Or we just don’t want the hassle of carrying around a reusable water bottle all the time.
But without this essential water, our health starts to suffer.
We start feeling tired and dizzy. We struggle to concentrate. We get muscle cramps, headaches, dry skin and bad breath. We even get grumpy, angry and unable to perform at our best.
So, if we want to stay feeling energetic, healthy and gorgeous, it’s vital that we keep drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Here are the most important times when you should be doing this.
1. When you wake up
Whilst you’ve been sleeping, you haven’t been drinking a drop, so it’s important to replace those lost fluids as soon as you wake up.
It will kick-start your metabolism, help your digestion, flush out toxins from your body and help you feel more energetic and awake!
Aim to drink around 500ml water as soon as you wake up and you’ll soon notice a massive difference.
2. When it’s almost mealtime
Drinking water before you eat will help your digestion to work more efficiently, allow you to absorb maximum nutrients from your food and help keep your weight in check!
Enjoy a glass or two of water around 30 mins before you eat, then tuck right in!
3. Before and after exercise
For optimal performance and better health, it’s important to drink plenty of water before, during and after you exercise.
This will help replace any fluids you lose when you sweat and keep your energy levels at a high!
4. When you’re feeling tired or stressed
Staying hydrated can help relieve stress and give you a boost in energy.
This is because even mild dehydration can cause levels of a stress hormone called cortisol to rise, making you feel anxious, stressed and overwhelmed.
Keep a reusable water bottle beside you at all times to help you stay calm and focused throughout the day.
5. When you have a headache
One of the main causes of headaches is dehydration. So instead of popping a pill next time your head hurts, try drinking a glass or two of refreshing water and see how much better you feel.
If you want to enjoy optimal health and look and feel great, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water throughout the day.
Aim for between 1 ½ to 2 liters of liquid, or more if you can. There’s no need to stick with plain water if you’re not a fan- simply drop in some slices of fresh fruit, or try drinking fresh juices, herbal teas and fruit teas instead.