How to drink enough water…
Many people find it really hard to drink enough water. Here are some simple tips to help you overcome this:
This is my favourite tip, as it seems to really help a lot of people: If you find it hard to drink enough water, try drinking a big cup of room-temperature or warm water when you first wake in the morning, before you even get out of bed. (Leave it by your bedside when you go to bed. If you want warm water, put it in a flask.) Many people find that drinking water first thing in the morning helps the body to be aware of how much water it needs through the day, so that your “thirst centres” will then remind you to keep drinking when you need to.
- It’s generally thought to be better to drink between/before a meal, rather than with/after a meal. Try making a habit of drinking a glass or two of water either while you are preparing your meal, or thinking about it (e.g. just before you go out from work to get your lunch).
- Whether you’re at home or go out to work, have a big (1-2 litre) bottle of water somewhere around. (You can refill it from the tap or from a water filter). That way you know how much you’ve had to drink.
Don’t forget:
- If you don’t drink enough water, you can’t expect your body – or your joints – to be healthy.
- Try to drink 1-3 litres of still (not sparkling) water at room temperature or above, per day.
- It is possible to drink too much water (although very difficult to do so). If you feel that you are unusually thirsty no matter how much you drink, you should consult your GP. It may indicate an underlying, more serious medical condition such as Diabetes that needs further medical investigation.
Compiled by Miriam Elkan