Look at the difference between the sunflowers in these two pictures
The first one is when the sunflower is dehydrated and the second is thriving, standing upright. This is the exact analogy I use with my clients when explaining the importance of water as a central cornerstone of your diet.
Our bodies are just like the sunflower.
When we are dehydrated we have less energy, less vibrance and don't look and feel our best.
When we are hydrated we have energy, motivation, focus, drive and of course, we look and feel much better!
Internally, this can also have a dramatic effect too. You've heard that our bodies are made up of 70% water? Well this water makes up your blood, lymph fluids, cellular liquids and vitally to your brain. More is used to make other products such as saliva (your gastrointestinal tract can make nearly 2L of the stuff per day!).
It's so important to get 1.5-2 litres of water a day. So if you aren't drinking as much as you should do, then your body will certainly know about it! Headaches, dry and/or itchy skin, brittle hair and nails, dark coloured urine and dry mouth are some immediate effects.
If you feel thirsty or start to get bit of a headache, this is a sign that you're already quite dehydrated. This means your brain has shrunken in size (yes shrunken!), can slightly elevate blood pressure and your body is retaining water (alongside with the waste it usually eliminates via urine).
Luckily, staying hydrated is easy:
1. Have a glass of water next to your bed and drink the whole thing as soon as you wake up
2. Have a 1 litre water bottle or jug that you carry with you or keep at your desk. This will help you keep track of how much you've had and inspire you to drink more.
3. Set yourself an alarm reminder on your phone to have drink at least a litre of water by lunchtime! There are also some great apps that help you track or set reminders.
4. If you've exerted yourself through exercise or your job is quite physical, you need to replenish the additional water lost via sweat. Aim for 2L+ per day.
5. Alcohol, caffeine and soft drink do not count towards your water intake. They actually are a diuretic, so you need to drink more water to account for these beverages.
6. For variety, you can add in fruits or herbs such as lemon, mint, summer berries, strawberries, cucumber, rosemary, basil, peppercorns.
Daily water intake will ensure you're body is flushing out toxins, which also leads to keeping your skin clear and fresh, and the frequent trips to the bathroom will soon be outweighed by the new-found focus, improved digestion and motivation.
If you interested in learning more about easy daily habits to maximise health book a free consultation with me today.
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Kelly Mulhall
Registered Nutritional Therapist
Kelly is a Registered Nutritional Therapist who focuses on positive physical and mental wellbeing, achieved through diet, lifestyle, sleep and exercise. Having struggled for years with IBS and hormonal imbalance, and increasingly frustrated with the lack of support and helpful advice from her GP, Kelly began her own journey of healing the body from the inside out. After seeing huge improvements she quit her job to study nutrition and focus on harnessing the healing powers of food to help other people in similar situations.