Water
Water ‘helps get rid of waste and regulates temperature, and it provides a medium for biological reactions to occur in the body‘ . Seems like a good enough reason to me to drink plenty.
How Much Do We Need?
Per the NHS we get 1 litre of water direct from food and therefore we only need another 1.5 litres directly from fluids. This is quite a lot when we you about it – a full big bottle of water! The good news though is that all of this lot count:
- Weak Tea
Herbal Non Decaf Teas- Juices
- Sports Drinks
My own observations indicate that many young people seem to drink more than enough fluids. In my previous job as a trainee accountant where the average age was <30 years, nearly everyone had a bottle of water on standby on their desk. When I moved jobs a few years later though, where the average age was ~40, a few things stuck out. The tea rounds that I was so used to were non existent in this place. That wasn’t it though… people didn’t seem to drink at all. My boss had one cup of tea a day! I think of my mum and dad too, unless it was milky tea no fluids ever passed their lips!
Why we Should Drink Water?
The following are linked to lack of water consumption:
- Lethargy
- Headaches
- Dry Mouth
- Palpitations
- Difficulties Concentrating
Can you Drink too much fluids (non non-alcoholic)?
One of the main problems with drinking too much fluid is that it can disturb sleep. One obvious way to counteract this is to stop drinking close to sleeping. This is trial and error to see what works for you. For me, I need to stop drinking a clear three hours before I plan to sleep.
However, to do more serious damage is not as hard as you would of thought either: ‘Drinking several litres over a relatively short period of time could be enough to cause water intoxication.‘ The takeaway message is that the balance between water and salt has to be kept just right in our bodies, too much water and the cells expand, too much salt and the cells shrink. Therefore too much water can also cause a headache as there is little clearance between the brain and the skull!
In summary drink plenty of water, but if you are visiting the toilet more than every two hours then it is probably time to slow your drinking, even if you still thirsty!
