If you haven’t had the chance to come up with a new goal for the remainder of 2018, here is one we could all stand to benefit from – drink more water! Most of us do not reach our daily water intake requirements. When our water output is greater than our water input our bodies become dehydrated. The feeling of thirst is elicited by dehydration and as such we should actually actively be drinking enough water so that we don’t feel thirsty. I know this may sound a bit strange and you are probably thinking “but I don’t eat when I am not hungry (all the time) so why should I drink water when I am not thirsty?” here’s why: 1 Our brains often confuse thirst with hunger: This is one of the reasons why drinking enough water assists with weight loss. Sometimes we interpret a message for thirst as being hungry and land up eating when really we are dehydrated. Replacing sugary drinks like ice tea, juices and soft drinks with plain water also reduces your daily energy consumption. 2 Water assists with fluid balance: The human body is made up of roughly 60% water. Water is essential for functions such as digestion, waste elimination and detoxification, circulation, nutrient transport and maintaining normal bodily temperature. This is why we may feel hot and lethargic when dehydrated as these body functions are strained due to a lack of available water to carry them out. 3 Water is vital for proper muscle cell function: Muscle cells rely on water for electrolyte balance which is incredibly important for muscle function specifically during exercise. Without water muscle cells become dehydrated and thereby fatigued. This is why it is suggested that we drink at least 500 millilitres of water about 2 hours before and during exercise (depending on how strenuous the exercise and how much you sweat). 4 Water promotes a healthy skin: When you are dehydrated your skin appears more dry and wrinkled. Drinking enough water helps hydrate the skin which improves its flexibility and appearance. 5 Water is necessary for proper kidney function: Our kidneys are responsible for waste elimination and detoxification of the body. This is made easier by giving our kidneys enough water to dissolve the toxins in. A good way to see if you are drinking enough water is by taking note of your urine – if it is light in colour and practically odourless you should be well hydrated however if the opposite is true then you should probably be drinking more water as your kidneys are working very hard at dissolving a whole lot of toxins in limited water reserves to produce such concentrated waste. This is why drinking enough water reduces your risk of developing kidney stones (solid crystals of mineral and acid salts that must pass through the urinary tract – OUCH!!). 6 Proper hydration is necessary for normal bowel function: When we are dehydrated our intestines draw as much water from the food we eat as they can to replenish our water reserves which results in constipation. The combination of water and dietary fibre is necessary to keep our digestion flowing regularly. The fibre becomes hydrated, increases in volume and fills up the space in our bowels. This is what allows it to act as “nature’s broom” and clear out the gut, promoting healthy digestion. A lot of you might be thinking – this is all great and whatever but you struggle to drink water because its relatively tasteless, so rather than looking to a sugary flavoured water try and make your water interesting by adding some fresh lemon or fruit slices, strawberries and mint. This will mildly flavour the water and also act as natural sources of electrolytes – which are much needed when exercising and sweating! If the issue is that you forget during a busy day to drink water until your body feels like a prune in the Sahara desert then there’s a few things you can try:
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AuthorDanielle Gemeliaris has been dancing for half her life and has always been passionate about food, nutrition and the science behind them. The knowledge she gained through her studies, as a dancer and her experience as a health and wellness coach through Herbalife, has made her uniquely qualified to help dancers better understand nutrition and the role it plays in their lives. She hopes to offer the readers of this blog the opportunity to gain a basic working knowledge of nutrition, the role it plays for dancers and learn how to make better more informed food choices in the future. Archives
April 2019
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