We tend to focus a lot on our food choices, but I often meet clients on who tell me that they regularly forget to drink fluids on most days. Water actually helps to lubricate our joints, so if you suffer from joint pain then it really is worth considering if you’re drinking enough.
Also, if you are a big tea or coffee drinker (like many of us in the UK) it would be worth considering alternative ways of including water in your daily routine. Tea does count towards your total fluid intake, especially in the elderly (despite it often being thought of as just a diuretic) but tea and coffee also contain properties that can reduce iron absorption from food.
If you are suffering from iron deficiency anaemia and you drink a lot of tea or coffee, you may want to consider swapping it for with plain/naturally flavoured water (especially at mealtimes). During my nutrition training I met many people with different digestive conditions who also suffered from iron deficiency anaemia. Its a really big problem for a lot of women in the UK and worldwide and can lead to symptoms such as tiredness, shortness of breath and hair thinning. I have written a more detailed post on iron rich foods here.
I just wanted you to spare a moment to think about how much fluid you drink on a daily basis. If you notice that your urine is very dark at times or that your stools are hard, painful or difficult to pass, this could be a sign that you are not taking in enough fluid.
Water is extremely important in enabling us to pass stools that are soft, healthy, comfortable and regular. It can also help with weight loss and maintaining a healthy body weight. Having water with (or just before) a meal, can actually help us to eat less! To summarise, ensure you have a good fluid intake to help with:
- Improved cognitive function
- Mental health and wellbeing
- The vital functioning of all our bodies cells
- Joint pain
- A healthy digestive tract
Have a fantastic day, and maybe spare a moment today to consider if you could make some changes to you’re fluid intake that could really make a massive difference to your overall health and wellbeing 🙂
Samantha xx