How often do you drink water during the day? Recent research, by Actiph Water found that 90 per cent of Brits are not drinking the NHS recommended six to eight glasses of fluids per day, with 20 per cent often forgetting to drink any water at all.
Tea, coffee, fizzy drinks and juice are firm favourites. But tea and coffee are classed as diuretics because they make the body produce urine more quickly than other drinks. And fizzy drinks and juices can be high in sugar, which can cause tooth damage and weight gain. These drinks are fine in moderation and as part of a healthy and balanced diet, but they are no substitute for water.
With our bodies made up of 70 per cent water and our brains around 85 per cent, ensuring we are sufficiently hydrated throughout the day with good quality H2O is essential for our health. If you’re one of the 90 per cent who aren’t drinking enough, it’s highly likely you’ll be experiencing mild forms of dehydration.
Signs of dehydration
Dr Naomi Newman-Beinart, pHD says: ‘We have established that drinking water should be a really important part of your day, especially in hot weather.’
If you’re thinking about reaching for your fourth cup of coffee or fizzy drink of the day, don’t drink it until you have checked out these five signs that you may not be drinking the recommended amount of water per day…
1. Headaches
Drinking enough water has been shown to improve mild headaches, so surely it is worth remembering to hydrate to avoid the headache?
2. Difficulty concentrating
Being dehydrated can make it hard to focus on daily tasks. Reaching for a bottle of water is an easy fix for this.
3. Low energy and low mood
Even mild dehydration can make you feel low in every way. It might be hard to motivate yourself to drink water when you’re feeling low, so keep a bottle of water next to you as a reminder to take a sip every now and again.
4. Constipation
Drinking water is one of the easiest remedies for constipation. You may need more fibre and exercise, but always start with the simplest solution – you never know, it may be just what the doctor ordered!
5. Exercise is more difficult than usual
Research shows that losing as little as two per cent of your body’s water can make you feel more fatigued and less motivated during and after exercise. Don’t forget that you may need to up your water intake when exercising, especially in hot weather.
