Stay hydrated, drink lots of water

It’s time to turn on the tap and fill up that water bottle.

Your mouth is dry. Your throat is parched. Maybe you lick your lips. Your body is telling you that you need to get some fluid in your system right away. If you’re feeling thirsty, you’re already a little dehydrated.

“Thirst is a sign of mild dehydration,” says Jennifer Sundberg, a registered dietitian who works in public health at Alberta Health Services in Red Deer. “As a general rule, we need fluids before we’re thirsty.”

That’s because our bodies are made up of half to two-thirds water. And we are always using water. Just sitting on the couch and breathing uses some of the water sloshing around in our cells, tissues and organs.

To keep our bodies running well, adults need to take in 2.25 to 3 L (nine to 12 cups) of fluid every day. The bigger you are, the more you

need.

What are the best liquids to drink?

Water Unsweetened pop or sparkling water

Unsweetened juice (no more than 125 ml per day) Low-fat milk Decaf tea and coffee, herbal teas

Low-sodium broths.

Tips to stay hydrated:

Drink a glass of water when you wake up

Carry a water bottle with you throughout the day and sip often

Drink a glass of water before each meal

Drink water before, during and after being active.

Can you eat your way to hydration?

No, but most fruits and vegetables have high water content, as well as the fibre that your body needs every day. You could eat an orange, grapefruit or apple instead of having a glass of juice.

What about booze?

Drinking alcohol doesn’t count as part of the fluid you need to stay hydrated. If you do drink alcohol, Low Risk Drinking Guidelines suggest that you:

Drink slowly and alternate with non-alcoholic drinks

Have no more than two drinks in any three-hour period

Go a day or two a week without alcohol

Women have no more than 10 drinks a week with no more than two drinks a day, most days

Men have no more than 15 drinks a week with no more than three drinks a day, most days.