Why drinking water is so important
From former model to nutrition consultant, Michelle den Hollander flew around the world from shoot to show, but also experienced the struggles of having the ‘right’ sizes. This brought her to where she is now, and on Amayzine she gives tips. This week about why you should especially drink water.
A relevant question after that immense heat. Fortunately, the warm weather helps us drink more water, although on those days we actually need even more than usual.
Fact: our body consists of more than half water.
To function properly, you also need to get enough water. Water serves as a building block, solvent, helps with the removal of waste products, and regulates your body temperature.
In practice, I find that drinking enough water is a challenge. Reluctantly, a few glasses of water are consumed throughout the day, but 1500 to 200 milliliters is by no means reached. Maybe if all those cups of coffee are counted, but unfortunately, you guessed it: we don't count those.
Almost every nutrition program I start with ensures that someone drinks enough water. But more importantly: I start explaining why water is so important, what dehydration can do to you, and how to find out if you're drinking too little.
Fact: the brain does not distinguish between hunger and thirst.
Hunger and thirst are regulated by the hypothalamus (a part of the brain). We tend to think of hunger faster than thirst, which is why we eat first and then drink. So it's wise to drink a large glass of water first. If your hunger/thirst feeling doesn't go away, it might be time to eat something.
What causes dehydration?
1. Fatigue. Dehydration can cause fatigue and drowsiness, which can reduce daily activities and endurance during your workout.
2. The recovery of your muscle tissue slows down after training.
3. Low blood pressure. Low blood pressure in turn causes fatigue and dizziness (especially when standing up too quickly).
4. Your skin dries out and feels tight. This leads to faster skin aging.
5. Headaches! Too little fluid can cause the brain to temporarily shrink, causing it to pull away from the skull. In addition to headaches, this can also cause other complaints, such as poor concentration, poor memory, a negative mood, and you may be less alert.
Fact: you can tell by the color of your urine whether you have drunk enough water.
The lighter your urine is (another reason to look back in the toilet), the more water you have drunk. If your urine is dark yellow, you know you really need to drink a bit more water.
We conclude with a tip, because how can you easily drink more water?
Link drinking water to one or more events during your day. For example, drink a bottle of water (about half a liter) as soon as you get up, the next bottle during your coffee breaks, and the last one when you drive home or are cooking. Preferably, drink a larger amount at once (also known as bulk drinking) and not small sips throughout the day. Additionally, it is much better for your body and digestion not to drink during or right after eating, but rather well before or well after eating.
Note: of course, moderation is also an art; you really don't need to drink more than two liters of water a day, unless you've exercised intensively or if you're losing a lot of fluid due to the heat like last week.
Michelle den Hollander is a nutrition consultant and hormone expert. With Michelle's Good Food, she shows that a healthy lifestyle is not a punishment and can also be easy. This way, she helps you choose delicious and good food to feel better in your skin. Want to learn and read more? Visit her online.
Text: Michelle den Hollander
