Wealden Times | WT186 | August 2017 | Wedding supplement inside

Health
H2O
Every organ in the body requires
fluids to function. Nutrients are
transported to cells in fluids,
they flush away waste and prevent
constipation. Another big benefit of
staying hydrated is that your mind
will feel sharper, your energy levels
will increase and – here’s the big one –
drinking plenty of fluids will prevent
you from overeating! As your body
can’t store fluids for long periods of
time, regular hydration is essential.
The amount of water we should drink
is individual and can range from 1.5
to 3L a day depending on your body
mass, the amount you perspire and
how much you exercise. For example,
if you’re petite and don’t sweat much,
1.5L may be fine but if you are 6 ft 4ins,
exercise for 1 hour and sweat a lot, 3L
is more appropriate. A good indicator
of whether you’re drinking enough is
the colour of your urine, it should be
clear over the day and not too dark first
thing in the morning. If you wake in
the middle of the night and are thirsty,
start tracking your water intake to see
Nutritionist Katie Peck explains
that our bodies are biological
machines which thrive when
well-nourished with water.
how many millilitres you’re drinking over
the day. Teas and coffees count towards
your total fluid intake, but make sure
that the majority of your daily fluid
intake comes from drinking water.
During the summer months, we
tend to drink more to compensate for
our bodies losing water in the heat.
Timing of when and how much water
to drink is important: you don’t want
to drink large volumes (say more than
1 pint) at once and, if you aren’t used
to drinking much water, increase the
amount you drink gradually over
several days. I recommend drinking a
large glass on waking and before meals
to stimulate your digestion but avoid
gulping large amounts with food and
drinking too much in the evening before
bed so as not to disrupt your sleep.
Getting your water intake right is a
balance. Begin by tracking your daily
intake and paying attention to your
urine. Overall, trust your judgement
to know what you feel is right for you
and, if you feel you need individual
advice, speak with a health professional.
Give your
water the
wow factor…
Flavoured ice cubes
Mint or borage ice cubes can
transform a simple jug of water from
functional to fabulous. Place borage
flowers or chopped mint leaves in
an ice cube tray, cover with water
and freeze. Add to sparkling or still
water moments before serving.
Cucumber water
Nutrient-rich cucumbers are made
up mostly of water but they are also
an excellent source of vitamins and
minerals, making cucumber-infused,
filtered tap water a deliciously
refreshing way to rehydrate on a
summer’s day. Slice a peeled cucumber
into a 1 litre jug, top up with ¾ litre
of filtered water, topped up with
ice to stop the slices floating, and
marinate for an hour in the fridge.
Try adding freshly squeezed lemon
or lime juice for a bit of extra zing.
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