A number of clients have asked me recently about how much fluid they should be drinking in a day. So I thought I'd write a quick blog to clear up any confusion.
The average UK adult needs to drink approximately 1.5 - 2 litres of fluid everyday. The best type of fluid is water, however caffeinated drinks such as tea and coffee also count but should not be your sole source of fluid. It is also worth noting that fizzy drinks such as cola should only be consumed from time to time as a treat. This is because of there high sugar content or in the case of diet/light drinks, there high artificial sweetener content both of which have been linked to weight gain. Pure fruit juices are another fluid I am regularly asked about, yes they count towards your daily fluid intake but you should not consume more than 1 glass (150ml) per day because of the high sugar content.
Water makes up 50 to 70 per cent of an adult's body weight and is essential for the body's growth and
maintenance. For example, it
helps get rid of waste, regulates temperature and it provides a
medium for biological reactions to occur in the body.
Water lost from the body through urine and sweat must be replaced, therefore if you don't consume enough water you can become dehydrated, causing symptoms
such as headaches, tiredness and loss of concentration. Chronic
dehydration can also contribute to health problems such as
constipation and kidney stones.
The best way to assess your hydration status is to regularly check the colour of your urine. If you are well hydrated your urine will be a pale straw colour. If you are dehydrated your urine will be yellow indicating that you need to consume more fluids.
BEST ADVICE I CAN GIVE - DRINK PLAIN WATER EVERYDAY (bottled or tap is fine)
