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Tips & Help
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news from Your Water Your Life site and find out how we are encouraging communities around Scotland to Top Up From The Tap.
Your health & Wellbeing
Water is vital for life. The benefits of keeping our reserves topped up have hidden depths.
The human body is around 60- 65% so it’s not surprising that a drop in hydration levels can impact on our health, vitality and performance.
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Water - I'll drink to that!
So how many litres of water is recommended per day? The commonly suggested amount is an aim of 8 glasses or 2 litres. There is actually little science to support this claim, but we know enough about its function within our bodies to understand that we’d be struggling without it. In fact, most of us have probably experienced some of the more minor symptoms of dehydration first hand.
It transports essential nutrients around our bodies and into our cells, regulates body temperature, lubricates the joints and internal organs and can help keep blood pressure low and the heart healthy. It also aids absorption and excretion of important biomolecules our bodies need to perform the daily functions we take for granted every day. Just small deficits can impact physical performance and cognitive function.
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Hydration and health
If you are exercising or in a warm environment, you will need to drink more. Drinking regularly and small amounts throughout the day is a great habit to get into.
If you’re not sure how much water you need, dehydration signs to look out for include headaches, dizziness, tiredness, thirst and dry mouth, dark coloured and strong smelling urine, dry skin and constipation. Doesn’t sound great does it?
Of all the things we can do to stay healthy – get more sleep, exercise, eat more vegetables, water is amazing in its simplicity. Straight from the tap, it’s so cheap, easy & accessible. A convenience to be grateful for.
This article was written with the support and guidance of Registered Nutritional Therapist, Sarah Ormerod of Thryve Nutrition (mBANT, CNHC).
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Water and wellbeing
Ever wondered why having a walk along the beach or a picnic by a burn can have a calming effect? Firstly, the colour blue has been proven to be a relaxing colour. The sound of waves ebbing and flowing or a bubbling burn is rhythmic and connects us to nature; proven to have a therapeutic effect on our brains.
When you’re feeling nervous, drinking water can calm you down. Water triggers the parasympathetic nervous system, our body’s ‘rest and digest’ response. This makes your heart rate and blood pressure lower, stimulates digestion which all helps your body to relax. That’s why there’s always water glasses on tables at speaking events and you reach for your glass in an interview or when making a speech.