Did you know the human body is ~60-70% water?

Our bodies use water in all cells, organs & tissues to help regulate temperature & other bodily functions. Basically, we can’t survive without it! So ensuring we are adequately hydrated is important for optimal health. Being as little as 2% dehydrated can impair performance, both in our everyday lives & from an athletic perspective. Some of the consequences of being dehydrated include early fatigue, increased reaction times, poor concentration/focus & lethargy.

So how can you improve your hydration status?

• Keep a water bottle/glass of water on your desk/beside your bed. This will act as a reminder, hopefully helping to avoid the ‘out of sight, out of mind’ mentality!
• Want to monitor your own hydration status? Simply check your urine colour. A pale-straw like yellow colour indicates you are adequately hydrated. Anything darker….fluid intake needs to be improved!
• Replace fluid lost through sweating or increased urination. During illness more fluid can be lost too. It’s important to keep fluid intake & output balanced to avoid dehydration
• All fluids including tea/coffee contribute to your hydration status
• Fruit/veg, salad & soups all contribute too
• Add a slice of lemon, lime or no added sugar squash to your water for some extra flavour

Hopefully some of these tips will help you to make small changes to improve your fluid intake.