Hydration is absolutely essential to our health, especially as the adult body is composed of approximately 60% water. Feeling fatigued? Sore muscles? Poor mental or physical performance, have you ever thought it could be down to hydration?
Check out these 3 things you need to know about hydration:
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Keeping hydrated isn’t just about water intake, this also includes: Fruit and vegetable consumption which contains a balance of electrolytes. The recommended optimal intake is 5 – 10 servings of vegetables per day.
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A loss of just 2% of body weight can lead to increases in perceived exertion and fatigue. The less hydrated you are, the less your body will allow itself to cool off during a workout; therefore making the workouts more exhausting.
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The main objective during short burst of cardiovascular fitness and endurance sports is maintaining hydration. Drinking a gallon of water before your workout isn’t going to effectively hydrate your cells and puts you at risk of nausea and cramping. So, ensure you’re hydrated throughout the day with these easy tips:
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Start the morning with a glass of water, or even better warm water with a squeeze of lemon
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Enjoy a daily smoothie, or green vegetable juice.
Our favourite is the Dr Norman Walker juice, which he found is the perfect balance of sodium and potassium.
Ingredients: (serves 1)
- ¼ small cucumber
- 1 stick celery
- 2 apples
- Ice
If you’re a coffee drinker, try drinking with a side of sparkling water. It’s known to cleanse the palate as well!
- Carry a bottle of water with you, and add your favourite fruits to create a homemade vitamin water!
- Explore various herbal teas, our favourites are: chamomile, nettle, liquorice and peppermint. Or leave them to cool overnight and add them to your smoothie base.
Written by Natalie Smyth.
Natalie Smyth is a passionate Naturopath, Food and Spirit Practitioner, certified in the mindfulness trainings under Thich Nhat Hanh, and Nutritional therapist in training. With a previous life in the corporate world, Natalie understands setting realistic achievable goals to achieve whole heath is most imperative in the deadline driven corporate London. Growing up in an active family, on the Coast in Australia, she knows the importance of prioritising nutrition and exercise to achieve overall healthy lifestyle goals.
She looks at every person as a unique bio individual, addressing the root of illness rather than symptoms, believing food is far more than fuel. It nourishes us down to our biochemistry, it unlocks our creativity, influences our mood, it grounds and connects us back to nature, as well as connecting us to our community.
