The human body is made of up to 70% water, yet humans lose water daily through the respiratory, gastrointestinal and urinary systems, as well as through the skin when they sweat. Moreover, how much water is lost daily depends on a variety of factors including activity level, climate, and even salt, carbohydrate and electrolyte intake.
How much do you know about water and how much further beyond reducing thirst do its benefits go? Quench your thirst for knowledge by reading this blog on the importance of staying hydrated! It explains how water intake can link to the most unexpected areas of your health, from digestion to sports performance and beauty.
So let’s see why assessing how much water you should drink and making sure you reach your daily hydration goals is essential:
- Water supports a healthy digestive system
Maintaining a hydrated body can be as important as chewing your food well when it comes to good digestion because:
- Water stimulates saliva production, which is essential to moistening your food so you’re able to chew and swallow it. All easy until now! What’s less known is that saliva also contains enzymes that help begin the digestion of starches and fats.
- Water may reduce appetite, helping you make sure that you don’t overfeed, which can slow down digestion, cause bloating, nausea, abdominal pain and a range of other gastrointestinal problems.
- Water doesn’t only come from the tap or the bottle. There’s also a significant amount of water in most fruits (e.g. melon, grapefruit, grapes and kiwi) and vegetables (e.g. iceberg lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes and celery), which are indispensable in a gut-friendly diet due to their fibre content. For maximum benefits, make sure to eat your fruit and vegetables more often than juicing them. For a deliciously refreshing boost of hydration and fibre, try this simple Zingy Immunity Smoothie.
- Water keeps your joints lubricated and supports post-exercise recovery
While motivation is key to kickstarting an active lifestyle, which in turn will help you stay fitter, it’s extremely important to look after your joints and muscles to ensure that you can maintain and enjoy your exercise routine in the long term. Here is where water can play a fantastic role.
Cartilage and Synovial Fluid – which line the surface of the joints and act as shock absorbers when we walk or run – are made from water. They prevent the bones from rubbing together so that you don’t experience pain or swelling, allowing you to move freely every day.
Your exercise performance and post-workout recovery are also closely linked to hydration:
- Fatigue is a common sign of dehydration, so grabbing a glass of water every time tiredness kicks in might be the solution to skipping fewer workouts and pushing that extra mile.
- Water helps carry nutrients and electrolytes around the body, which support your muscle’s ability to stay energised while you exercise and to recover after strenuous exercise. The maths is simple – the better and quicker you recover, the more likely you will be to attend your session the next day and build and maintain muscle mass.
- Water regulates your body temperature so it’s your best ally during hot summer months when feeling too warm might stop you from completing your workout or even starting it in the first place.
To support muscle recovery and consume more liquids, try having a high-protein smoothie such as this one shortly after a workout. Alternatively, simply mix 30g (3 heaped tablespoons) of our organic SuperProtein blends with 250-300 ml of your plant-based milk of choice.
- Water keeps your skin clear and glowing
While high-end skincare products and a thorough skincare routine may sound like what you’d need to get Hollywood worthy skin, there’s one very important (and mostly free) step you mustn’t forget about – drinking water!
- Drinking enough of water will help prevent skin dullness and dryness, which can trigger excessive oil production and contribute to acne. Staying hydrated will also contribute to better skin elasticity so you can enjoy younger-looking skin.
- Water supports liver health and its detoxification process. When your liver performs its functions effectively, your body is left with fewer toxins that can find their way to your skin and irritate it. What’s more, your skin won’t have to pick up on the excess toxins and eliminate them, a process that can manifest through eczema, acne and rashes.
So, consistency is key – you must hydrate to keep your body looking and feeling good, as well as to help it push through challenging activities and recover well.
Visit our recipe section to discover a range of delicious, superfood boosted hot or cold drink ideas.