Daily Rituals for Self-Care II: Drink your water

This article is the second installment of our 6-part series “Daily Rituals for Self-Care.” We already wrote about the importance of anti-inflammatory foods in the previous chapter. You can catch up on it here.

Why water is so important

Water has many functions in the body including regulating temperature, transporting nutrients and compounds in blood, removing waste products that are passed in the urine and acting as a lubricant and shock absorber in joints (1). If we don’t consume enough fluids, our body becomes dehydrated over time, causing a negative effect on mental and physical health.

How much water should we be having each day?

How much you should drink per day depends on many factors, such as physical activity, age, body weight and weather. 

According to EatWell guide (NHS) you should aim for 6-8 glasses (approx.. 990-1200ml) a day (1).

How to make it a routine

A simple way to get a head start with your 8 glasses of water a day is to keep a full glass by your bed and have drinking it upon waking up. You can then fill a reusable glass or stainless steel bottle that you keep with you during the and sip it during before lunch. Repeat in the afternoon and you will have reached your recommended intake.

This article is the second installment of our 6-part series “Daily Rituals for Self-Care.” Stay tuned for the next chapters.

Sources

(1) NHS. The Eatwell Guide. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/live- well/eat-well/the-eatwell-guide/

(2) WHO. Water Requirements, Impinging Factors, and Recommended Intakes. Available at: https://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/nutwaterrequir.pdf