Next Monday, the 14th June, marks the start of Nutrition and Hydration Week. Nutrition and Hydration Week is an annual event with a shared objective to highlight, promote and celebrate improvements in the provision of nutrition and hydration locally, nationally and globally. As water filtration experts, we have a particular interest in the hydration side of things. Read on to find out why.
Why is it so important to stay hydrated?
Water is an essential part of life and we cannot survive without it. The human body is infact made up of mostly water. Water has many important functions within the body: from removing waste products in urine, to lubricating your joints, transporting nutrients around your body and controlling your temperature. It can even help make your skin look great.
How much water should I drink to stay healthy?
As a basic guide, most adults need about 2 to 2.5 litres of water a day. This equates to around 10 cups a day. Children need less and pregnant women need a little more. Most of the fluids we consume will come from drinks but some comes from the foods you eat, such as soups, stews, fruit and vegetables. To avoid dehydration you need to make sure the amount of fluid your body loses each day is replaced by the fluids you drink or get from food.
The exact amount of fluid you need depends on things like:
- Your age – as you get older your body stores less water and your kidneys don’t work as well as they once did.
- The amount of physical activity you do – the more exercise you do, the more you need to drink.
- The climate and your environment – you need to drink more if it’s hot and you’re sweating a lot or if you’re in a warm house or office with either central heating or air conditioning. Both air conditioning and central heating can dry the air.
How can I make sure I’m drinking enough?
One of the easiest ways to remember to drink is by keeping a water bottle with you at all times which you can then sip on throughout the day. Water is the best choice when it comes to meeting your body’s needs for fluids. It doesn’t have any calories and is readily available. If you’re not keen on drinking tap water on its own, you can filter or chill it or add sugar-free cordial.
One way to make water more exciting is to add slices of lime, orange or lemon. Or you might like to add cucumber or berries to your drink. It gives the water a fragrance and taste that makes it much more interesting.
If you don’t like the taste of water to begin with, try to stick with it – the taste may grow on you over time. You could start by having a range of still, sparkling and mixed flavour waters until you get used to the taste.
The benefits of water filters
Due to the treatment it undergoes before entering your home, tap water can tend to taste and smell like chlorine. Filtering water removes a variety of impurities resulting in a more refreshing and enhanced flavour. Unlike distilled water which has most of the minerals removed and tastes very bland, filtered water removes contaminants whilst leaving in the minerals that make water taste great. Using water filters to filter tap water is much cheaper and better for the environment than buying bottled water. You do not need to buy plastic bottles and can keep refilling your glass or refillable bottle instead. By having a water filtration system installed you will be saving yourself lots of money all whilst drinking higher quality water that has been filtered accordingly.
We have a range of water filtration solutions to suit both your home and business needs. Not just for Nutrition and Hydration Week, we can help you to remain healthy and hydrated at all times.
Why not get in touch and find out more!