The Difference Between Water Intake and Fluid Intake
For many of us, increasing our water intake is something we are working towards daily - but are we confusing water intake with fluid intake?
Whilst fluid intake is important too - there are key differences between the two, mainly the nutritional value and hydration factors…
What is Water Intake?
Water intake refers to the hydration levels you consume from water and foods containing water. The recommendation for the average adult is to consume roughly 1.5-2 litres of water per day ( 6-8 cups) to maintain hydration levels and support bodily functions.
What is Fluid Intake?
Fluid intake is very similar to water intake but it includes liquid consumed from all drinks including tea , coffee and other beverages. The key difference between fluid and water intake is that fluid intake contains drinks that can actually be dehydrating to the body (for example tea and coffee which are both diuretics).
What do I Need To Consider?
The biggest consideration here is to ensure that you are trying to consume 1-2 litres of actual water per day. Simply drinking 4-5 cups of tea or coffee per day will not hydrate the body - in fact it will do the opposite and it’s essential that we hydrate the body to support our internal systems.
We know that drinking water is not easy for everyone so some recommendations form us include:
adding flavour to your water e.g lemon, mint, cucumber
Keeping a water bottle on you throughout the day to remind you to hydrated
Every time you have a cup a tea of coffee, have a glass of water with it too
Start your day with a glass of water before you do anything else - start the day by hydrating the body.
Opting for herbal teas rather than standard tea with milk
What can happen if I don’t hydrate?
Hydration is one of the most important things to focus on day to day as it can have damaging effects on the body if we do not get enough water. Some of these include:
Fatigue
Dizziness
Headaches
Muscle Cramp
Digestive Issues
Cardiovascular Strain
Kidney problems
So, you can see why it’s essential that we keep our water intake up. Start by trying to add an extra 1-2 glasses of water per day and gradually build up, this will mean it’s easier to in case your hydration levels over time.
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