In 2016 we will…
Drink more water.
Water is by far the healthiest drink for us and without it humans, animals, plants and in fact the whole planet would die out. For us humans, however, there are so many other liquid choice available to us that water can quite often get overlooked and I know for a fact, that I don’t drink enough water, which is something I definitely need to change in 2016.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommends that we should be drinking between 2 and 2.5 litres of water a day. Although this may seem a lot, this includes both food and drink consumption, so for example the water contained in fruit and vegetables or alternative drinks like tea and smoothies etc. all count towards this recommended amount. This is broken down further with the advice that 70-80% of daily water intake should come in liquid form from drinks and the remaining 20-30% should come from food.
Water is essential for keeping our bodies hydrated, keeping our vital organs healthy, growth and repair as well as ensuring our brains are working effectively. In fact, water makes up 60% of a humans body and if you take into account the ways in which we lose water on a daily basis; sweat, urination, defecation, blood, tears, saliva, it is no wonder we need to keep our bodies rehydrated.
Try these tips to help you drink more water:
- Forgetful? – If you’re main excuse for not drinking enough water is that you’re too busy and you simply forget to drink, try downloading the app Waterlogged, which sends you a reminder and logs how much water you’ve drunk.
- Filter – If you live in hard water area, the water from your taps can often have a funny, metallic taste to it. Invest in a jug with a built in water filter, like the ones from Brita, and you’ll have water that tastes as fresh as a mountain spring.
- Bottled – The majority of us are busy and can spend a lot of our days on the go, away from the convenience of taps. If you know you’re going to be traveling a lot or in and out of meetings all day, it’s really important you carry a bottle of water around with you.
- Flavour – If you find the taste of water boring and a bit bland, why not infuse it with something like orange, lemon, limes, ginger or herbs such as mint, thyme or even basil.
Water is the elixir of life. Do yourself and your body a favour and drink more water. It’s really not that difficult and we’re very fortunate in this country to literally have it on tap.
So no more excuses, let’s raise a glass to WATER!
