Is your gut needing a drink?
To many that might seem a bit of a strange statement? Why on earth would my gut be thirsty? Surely it would be my whole body that I need to cool down or maybe its not hot enough yet to be thinking about hydration?
Well no. Hydration is of course important for the whole body, you need water to maintain enough blood and other fluids to function properly, and if the body starts to lose a substantial amount of water more quickly than it’s replaced then the body can start to become hydrated.
And how does this affect the digestive system? Well a common effect of dehydration on your digestive system is constipation. So while you may not feel that dehydrated, certainly in your day to day you may not be noticing it and this is because thirst is not a good indicator, you may notice it more when you go to make a bowel movement.
To prevent dehydration, aim to drink 6-8 glasses of water a day – more when the weather is warm – and increase the intake in warmer climates or when taking any form of exercise.
However, I do know some people who really struggle to get the right amount of water in a day so here are some top tips from Dr Tony Leeds as to how to make sure you’re keeping your fluid levels right.
- Drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day – in warm weather you’ll need to drink more.
- Don’t rely on thirst as a sign that you need to take a drink.
- Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables to help increase your fluid intake.
- Take water breaks rather than coffee breaks at regular intervals during the day.
- Keep a bottle of water on your desk at work to remind you to take a drink.
- Drink plenty of water before, during and after taking exercise – especially when the weather is warm.
So tomorrow make sure you have a water cooler break and not a coffee break. You may find your gut loves you for it!