Why ‘drying out’ is bad, not good, for your health

Moreover, scientists have theorised that our bodies don’t detect thirst as efficiently as we get older.

As well as being a potential hospitalisation danger, dehydration can lead to kidney issues over the longer term. Water’s also important for maintaining the elasticity of your skin, and the working of your organs. 

At one time or another, you’ve no doubt been told that you should be drinking eight glasses of water a day. This number isn’t far off the mark, according to experts, who say that the average woman should consume 11 cups of water a day and men should have 15 cups.

But there’s no need to start gulping down water in a panic, because a large percentage of that water comes from the food you eat. Foods such as cucumber and watermelon are not only full of great vitamins and minerals, they’re also more than 80 percent water and count towards your daily intake.

As well as drinking water, products such as coconut water, skim milk, and milk substitutes such as almond milk have hydrating benefits. However, it’s always a good idea to read the label as you need to make sure they’re unsweetened so as not to add more sugar to your diet.

A common myth for a long time was that coffee and tea dehydrated you, but experts say that this is incorrect – the water in these drinks does count towards your daily intake.  Not only that but you have the added benefit of coffee, which is a memory booster.
These are just a few helpful tips to add hydration to your healthy lifestyle that won’t keep you tied to a water bottle.