Sometimes the easiest solutions to health are right under our noses the whole time.
Optimum hydration is just one such solution that can make a huge and positive
difference to a person’s health, fitness and wellness.
So how much should we be drinking on a day-to-day basis? Should this be water? Should it be sports drinks? Our caffeinated beverages okay?
Firstly, we are going on record as saying “We LOVE coffee”. The smell, taste, the whole experience of drinking coffee is something that we enjoy on a daily basis, and will continue to do so. There are so many conflicting pieces of research around the subject of coffee that it’s hard to know exactly who to believe.
Some researchers believe that caffeinated beverages and coffee are the root of all evil and lead us to adrenal fatigue and burnout, whilst others have attributed better concentration, more energy, and even fat loss and weight control as being positive benefits from drinking coffee.
Furthermore, whilst mildly diuretic (dehydrating) in nature, unlike alcohol, coffee will not lead to a negative hydration level. What this means is that when you drink coffee for every 100ml that you consume, you may excrete more urine than you would if you were drinking water. However, you will still have a net fluid gain, not a fluid loss.
We will now examine the importance of optimal hydration and strategies to keep us on topped up on a daily basis.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2NYqESPTMU Hear what our client has to say.
How Much Water Should I Drink
According to the CHEK Institute, we should all be aiming to consume around 0.033 x Bodyweight (Kg) in litres of water per day!
Confused? Let me give you an example.
eg 80Kg person.
= 0.033 x 80 = 2.64 (litres per day).
If you’re new to drinking water this does sound like a huge amount of water to drink! However, just as we build up our exercise we can also take baby steps towards reaching this target.
The absolute number one coaching tip that I have given many clients over the years is simply set a timer whilst at work, sat at their desk or when working from home. Every hour, on the hour the client consumes 100ml of water. Over the course of a working day this equates to an extra 800ml than they would ordinarily consume.
Over time, increase this amount to 125 ml, then to 150ml, 175ml and so on until we eventually reach our target. This takes time as in the early stages there is quite a need to visit the bathroom on a more frequent basis!
Why hydrate so much?
Most soft drinks sold in gyms, cafes, newsagents and supermarkets are full of sugar and laced with caffeine and/or taurine, inclusive of metabolic stimulators, additives, preservatives and colourings that effect autonomic and hormonal balance. These drinks are less effective than water alone and may leave you tired and/or affect concentration due to sugar crash.
If you are going to enjoy these type of drinks, at least consider drinking water alongside them or diluting these drinks.
One of THE best sports drinks as we have found over the years is to add a pinch of Celtic Organic Sea Salt to every litre of high quality, clean water that you drink. The 83 trace minerals in the Celtic Organic Sea Salt help to optimally hydrate the body by replacing lost electrolytes from sweat, and also slowing the passage of water via gastric emptying.
The Celtic sea salt also works especially well for those who often get lightheaded upon quickly standing the day after a physically demanding training session.
In short, keeping optimally hydrated is great with your health, your pocket and even your waistline.
Until next time, stay awesome!
