5 Tips to Stay Hydrated
The human body is 70-80% water. We're basically cucumbers with anxiety!
Without sufficient water, all of our major functions are impaired such as, cognition, strength, stamina and repair.
Any trauma that happens to your body, such as cut on your finger to surgery, requires water to help heal those tissues.
Collagen, the protein that is responsible for healing your tissues post birth, especially your diastasis recti (tummy gap), is 70% water!
So, how do you increase your fluid intake to promote a healthy functioning body? Here are 5 easy tips that are perfect for new, time poor, mothers.
1. Keep A Water Bottle Handy
My best habit for drinking more water is to simply keep a water bottle in sight and reach. When I notice it, I take a sip. When it's empty, I fill it up and start again. It's amazing how much you can drink when you always have water to hand!
It's like when you have a glass of wine. If it's in front of you, you keep picking it up right? At least I do! In theory you will treat your water bottle in the same way.
2. Drink When You Get Up
I'm assuming that one of the first places you visit in the morning is the kitchen. When you enter, fill up your water bottle and have a drink. Then top it up again and carry on your day as per tip #1.
Getting into the habit of having a glass of water first thing in the morning will
a. mean that you don't have to remember so much during the day.
b. Re-hydrate you from the night time break.
3. Eat Your Fluids
Whole fruits and vegetables are high in their water content. If you don't have time to eat a whole meal, try snacking on an apple, grapes or some cherry tomatoes. Something that you can eat with one hand yet is full of essential vitamins, minerals and fluids.
You could also make soup in a slow cooker. Fluid and a meal all in one! Check out my healing chicken soup for a yummy, soul nourishing dish.
4. Swap Caffeine for Herbal
Caffeine drinks, such as coffee, tea and cola, are classes as a diuretic. This means that they cause your body to eliminate more water than the drink probably provides.
If you're a fan of energy drinks too, the sugar provides a double whammy by slowing the absorption of water in the intestines.
Now I know you're a sleep deprived mum and I'm trying to take your coffee away so we'll do this one slowly.
Start by monitoring how many caffeinated drinks you consume and swap 1 our for a herbal tea. I have a wide selection of teas for whatever takes my fancy. Over time, I'm sure you will to.
5. Beware of Crash Diets
Hopefully you understand that crash diets cause you to lose water weight. You then often give up before you get significant fat loss and you quickly put the weight back on, leaving you disheartened and reaching for the Tim Tams.
All of my programmes come with a healing nutrition guide to help you build good habits with your food to promote healing and recovery.