Do you know how much water you should drink every day?
More importantly… are you actually drinking that much?
The Eatwell Guide recommends drinking at least 6-8 glasses of water every day.1https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-guidelines-and-food-labels/water-drinks-nutrition/ This is roughly 1.2 to 1.5 litres and includes water, lower-fat milk, sugar-free drinks, PLUS your tea and coffee!2https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-much-water-should-i-drink-day
Staying hydrated is important for your whole body. Here are six good reasons to refill that water bottle! 3https://www.ncoa.org/article/10-reasons-why-hydration-is-important:
Drinking enough water:
✅ Boosts microbiome diversity and reduces pathogenic bacteria4https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/152/1/171/6395031
We LOVE microbial diversity – as diversity is the measure of health for living ecosystems! The more different kinds of gut bacteria, the more resilient you are to infection and illness. Staying hydrated can also help reduce rates of pathogenic bacteria5https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/152/1/171/6395031. This includes pathogens like campylobacter, which are known to upset your stomach.
✅ Helps digestion
Water breaks down soluble fibres found in healthy foods like oats, carrots, peas and apples. Sufficient water intake also helps regulate bowel movements and reduce constipation.
✅ Increases brain performance
Your brain needs water too! Hydration can improve your concentration, memory and mood. It’s one of the simplest and quickest ways to boost brain health.
✅ Can help you lose weight
Drinking water between meals can help you stay fuller for longer. This is great to curb cravings and keep you on track with your food goals.
✅ Decreased joint pain
Staying hydrated also provides extra lubrication for your joints. This can help keep your joints healthy, reduce degradation and ease joint pain.
✅ Hydrates your skin
This is one more way to keep your skin looking fresh and healthy. This is important for your overall health too – you can see why here: Why you should never ignore dry skin!
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Top tip: Why not add fruit into your water bottle for a refreshing drink, or make up one of our gut-brain healthy herbal teas and pop it into the fridge for a cooling blast.
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