Hydration and Energy
Written by: Jordan DeVault, Health Fitness Specialist
Did you know water contributes to about 50-60% of your bodyweight? Its importance serves many essential functions that keep us going everyday. Determining an adequate amount of daily water intake can be tricky because of certain factors that influence it. You can lose fluids from exercising, hot environments, pregnancy, and illnesses. Therefore, during these circumstances, your body's need for water and nutrients will increase. Dehydration can occur if you don't drink enough water. A symptom of dehydration is tiredness, or low energy levels. When fluids are scarce in the body, the heart has to work harder to pump oxygen throughout the body. This expended energy will leave you feeling tired and sluggish. Luckily, you can prevent this by staying hydrated everyday!
Tips to increasing your daily water intake:
- Keep a refillable water bottle with you throughout the day
- Eat more hydrating foods like fruits and vegetables
- Set an alarm to remind you to drink water
- Create a "water intake" journal to track your intake
- Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink water
- Be creative! Add add cucumbers, berries, or mint to your water
Examples of hydrating foods and their water percentage: watermelon (92%), spinach (92%), grapefruit (90%), broccoli (89%), blueberries (85%), and avocado (81%).