You probably have heard that drinking plenty of water is important for your health, but do you have a habit of getting your water in each day, or do you find yourself overlooking the importance of proper hydration? Do you know how much water per day you need? Don’t worry, the answer is simpler than you think, and the best news is that you can start upping your water intake right away!
How Much Water to Drink
Though health authorities differ on exact recommendations for how much water to drink, The Australian Water Drinking Guideline recommends 8 glasses of water each day, based on an average glass size of 240ml. Keep in mind that this is a general rule. Your individual body size and activity levels, as well as the weather where you live can affect your personal water intake needs. Start with 8 glasses but if you still feel thirsty or dehydrated, be sure to give your body the extra hydration it wants. When in doubt, confirm that your urine is pale, as this is a sign of adequate hydration and good health.
Here are some simple ways to get into the habit of drinking more water each day:
- Bring your water bottle with you on the go and around the house – you’re more likely to drink it when it’s right in front of you.
- When you find yourself reaching for a sugary beverage, try swapping it out for water. This way, you’ll increase your water intake and cut down on your sugar intake at the same time!
- Keep chilled water readily available in your refrigerator at all times.
- Leave a glass of water on your bedside table at night so you can hydrate when you wake up or in the middle of the night.
- Make drinking water more fun by infusing your water with lemon, lime, or strawberries.
- Try drinking a glass of water before each meal. This will also cleanse your palette to make your meal more enjoyable and reduce the likelihood of overeating.
- When you feel hungry, try drinking a glass of water first. The body sometimes confuses thirst with hunger.
- To keep the planet safe while you hydrate, opt for reusable glass bottles and skip the plastic. You’ll feel good about your positive impact and drink more.
Why Your Water Intake Matters
Did you know that the human body is 50% to 80% water? Furthermore, the body requires more water than it is able to produce to survive. Drinking sufficient water is critical for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and the body needs it for digestion, nutrient absorption, to eliminate waste, and to regulate body temperature. Proper hydration also helps with mouth health, reduces fatigue, and keeps your eyes, nose, and mouth moist and able to consume food properly. Water even reduces the risk of kidney stones and some cancers, protects your organs, and helps you move your joints without pain.
The Quality of Your Water
As you probably know, here at BRITA we’re passionate about providing you with great tasting filtered water, which tastes as good as bottled water, minus the cost and plastic waste. The quality of your drinking water is just as important as how much of it you drink. Where you live, your household pipes, and water hardness can all play a part in the quality of your water. To ensure the condition of your water is suitable, try using filtration systems to reduce chlorine, minerals causing limescale build-up, metals, and sediments that could impact on the taste and quality of your drinking water at home.
Drink Up and Enjoy
In addition to being essential to your health, tap water in Australia is also refreshing, accessible, and free. It doesn’t matter if you prefer it at room temperature, loaded with ice, in a bottle on the go, in a charming mason jar, with lemon or by itself, there’s no downside to getting your daily water intake in. Start building this simple habit into your daily routines and your body and mind will reap the benefits. Drink up and enjoy!
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