Drinking regimen: Why is hydration essential for your health?

You've probably heard a lot about drinking and its importance. Let's now summarize why it's actually important for us and our health. What should we drink and what should we avoid?

What happens when we don't have enough fluids?

Lack of fluids in the body can cause a lot of trouble. If we do not supply our bodies with fluids properly, it can lead to dehydration, which comes on very inconspicuously. It starts with mild headaches, dry lips and tongue, fatigue, malaise, a feeling of lack of energy, problems with concentration, bad mood and reduced work performance, even when working at a computer. You may even faint. Your skinIt is dry and flaky. It also causes water retention in the body and swelling of the extremities. Dehydration can lead to constipation, appendicitis and urinary tract infections, and even kidney dysfunction.

Feeling thirst paradoxically, it doesn't come as the first warning sign. Once you're thirsty, it's already "too late" and mild dehydration is already on its way.

How much fluid should we drink daily?

The question of the minimum amount of fluids that we need to supply our body with during the day is still much debated. For simplicity, you can calculate that for every 15 kg of body weight you should drink 0.5 l of fluid. The formula for the calculation looks like this:

Your weight / 15 × 0.5

But it is just a tool and the actual income needed is also affected by a whole range of factors, such as your current health status, the season, the outside temperature, your body temperature, the humidity of the air and your physical activity. It makes sense that if do you do sports, your need for fluid replacement is greater than if you were sitting on the couch reading a book. Similarly, you need more fluid intake in the summer and when staying in direct sunlight than in winter.

When should we focus most on our drinking regimen?

Few people know that the least amount of fluids should be consumed in the evening. Yet many people do it. In the evening, they come home from work, school, or another activity outside the home where they didn't have much time or opportunity to drink, and now they try to catch up in the peace and comfort of their own home. But that's wrong. In the evening, the body has to rest and regenerateIf you pour liquids into it now throughout the day, you will increase kidney stimulation and the body, instead of resting, starts to process and filter liquids.

So it's ideal to start replenishing fluids immediately after waking up in the morning. You will start the whole organism, and therefore also metabolism. So if you're trying lose weight, a glass of water upon waking is ideal part daily ritual. Then replenish fluids continuously all day longIf you're having trouble with this and you forget in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, try downloading a reminder app or simply setting a reminder on your phone.

What to drink and what should you limit or avoid completely?

You probably guess correctly that the basis of your drinking regimen should be pure spring waterThis should make up the largest portion of your daily drinking regimen. However, in addition to fluids, the body also receives minerals and vitamins, so it's not entirely out of the question to have some now and then mineral water, for example after sports, and thus provide the body with calcium, magnesium and sodium. Sometimes also include unsweetened green or herbal tea.

If you are one of those people who have trouble drinking plain water, try adding some flavor to it. You can get a great refreshing drink by adding lemon or lime, ginger, mint or cucumberYou can combine fruits and vegetables with water according to your preferences.

On the other hand, sweetened drinks, cola drinks and energy drinks are not suitable, mainly because sugar contentIf you like to drink coffee, always have it with you. a glass of water.

WITH alcohol don't overdo it and also alternate it with with clean water. It works diuretic – diuretic. The consequence is that when drinking alcohol from the body you will excrete a lot of fluids, but you won't add any to the body. So alcohol, as the famous saying goes, always in moderation (and water).