Why hydration matters
What’s regarded as the most important nutrient in the world?
A tall glass of (filtered) H2O.
After all, we can’t survive without water. But beyond survival, why does hydration matter? And how do you know if you’re properly hydrated?
*Opens the floodgates.*
Being properly hydrated is essential for overall health. Think—joint, skin, and immune health. It’s also required for blood sugar balance, mental agility, and preventing kidney disease. That said, this is our favorite reason to stay hydrated: hormonal balance.
Adequate hydration keeps our endocrine system humming along. This is even more important if you’re trying to conceive (water increases circulation to your uterus!). As mentioned, water is essential for all major organs. They get first hydration dibs. So, if you’re not well hydrated, your non-essential organs—like the uterus and ovaries—get put on the backburner. To recap: a nourished endocrine system requires plenty of water.
So, how do you know if you’re drinking enough water?
That old age 8-glasses-a-day rule isn’t so simple. One of the easiest ways to tell if you’re properly hydrated is by the color of your urine. Your urine should be very light yellow. In terms of frequency, a good rule of thumb is to urinate every 2-3 hours (minimum). If you live in a dry place, like Colorado, or you’re very active, you’re likely drinking more water and thus, peeing more frequently.
Last but not least, do coffee and tea count toward your daily hydration goals? Yes! So long as you’re drinking a moderate amount of caffeine, you’re not losing fluids. While caffeinated drinks can have a mild diuretic effect (meaning, they may cause the need to urinate), they don’t appear to increase the risk of dehydration. While this isn’t an excuse to drink coffee all day long, rest assured you can enjoy your morning latte without dehydration concerns.
Electrolytes and more
We’re all about enhancing water at beeya. Here are some of our favorite water enhancers:
Add a pinch of sea salt
Although you’re drinking water, your body may not be absorbing it all. Hear us out:
To achieve a well-hydrated state (and happy hormones!), you actually need to absorb the fluids you’re consuming. The easiest way to prep for maximum fluid absorption? Add a pinch of sea salt to your water. The sodium actually facilitates the water being absorbed. In essence, this is because you don’t have to pull sodium from other places in the body. It’s in the water you’re sipping. We love Redmond Real Salt! A small pinch goes a long way.
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