Think of what you need to survive – really, just survive – Food, Water, Air, Wifi?
With around 60% of our body weight made up of water (that’s what I call cray cray fluid retention) it’s essential to keep this stat in the upper levels, not only for our survival, but in order to function well in the workplace.
Staying hydrated is one way to keep the synapses snapping. Dehydration can affect brain structure and function, affecting thinking and reasoning. The boffins that know stuff say that dehydration affects complex problem-solving, coordination and attention the most.
So, how much water do you need to drink in a day? Around 2L for a woman and 2.5 for a man (refer gratuitous pic of big rig drinking water.) The good news is, all fluid counts towards your daily fluid intake (so, those 10 cups of coffee a day are good for you, but the jury is still out on wine vs water.)
Filling up the tank also helps with weight management – it makes you feel more full, naturally suppresses the appetite and improves metabolism. It also helps muscles and joints work better, improves the immune system, keeps skin supple and forget a detox diet…water is a natural detoxifier!
So, how do you know if you don’t have enough water in your system? Simple really. It’s called the Pee test but no doctors required. Next time you go, check out the colour – light and bright is alright, amber and dark….well you get the picture.
Problem is, water can be so ho hum but here are some ways to Pimp it up!
- Add slices of lemon, lime or orange
- Infuse water with fresh berries, pineapple or melon or freeze bits of fruit in ice cube trays for a more subtle flavour
- Add sliced cucumbers to your water
- Enhance the flavour with fresh mint, basil, ginger, rosemary or coriander
- Drink sparkling water if you need a fizz with no fat
If you want to app this little puppy, check out a bunch of free apps here.
Happy Hydrating!
