Water Intake, Dehydration & You

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“If you want to live the healthiest life possible and boost your overall wellness, you should drink more water.”

It’s fair to assume that no one reading the above statement is surprised by the idea that drinking plenty of water is crucial to human health. The fact is repeated to the point of cliche, often suggested as a cure for all ills. We all know we should be drinking more water to stave off the damage chronic dehydration can cause, enjoy a clearer complexion, and simply feel better - but is the matter actually that simple? Below, we’ve dug into the facts to try and get to the bottom of this often basically-presented - but actually surprisingly complex - issue.

The “8x8 rule”

The general recommendation is that you should drink eight (8 oz) glasses of water per day - but, unfortunately, this has been disputed on numerous occasions. Some argue that the 8x8 “rule” is arbitrary, while others dismiss it as it doesn’t take into account various lifestyle factors - for example, someone who is exercising heavily should definitely drink more than 8x8 per day.

So, how much water should you drink? It’s really up to you. If you’re thirsty, then drink water. If you’re not thirsty, then you can go without if you prefer - though there are a few caveats to keep in mind.

The risk of diuretics

Diuretics are beverages that actually contribute to dehydration. The most common example is alcohol; if you’re thirsty and you drink a glass of wine, in terms of your body’s response, you’ll be more dehydrated as a result of doing so. The same applies to beverages that contain caffeine, such as coffee and green tea; the caffeine acts as a diuretic, which worsens dehydration.

Even worse, the problems diuretics can cause will be exacerbated if you are exercising regularly. It is also worth noting that the two diuretics above are not particularly beneficial beverages, either: alcohol is often misused, while the benefits of caffeine are minimal. As a result, it may be worth exploring the possibility of alternatives- such as learning how to stop drinking or maybe switching to decaf or limiting your caffeine usage. Ultimately, the benefits of cutting out alcohol and limiting your caffeine intake expand far beyond simply improving hydration levels, but can also undoubtedly be beneficial in this regard.

The importance of proper hydration during exercise

In discussing the above, we have noted the need for adequate hydration during exercise, and this is a point that is worth underlining. If you are working out, and particularly if you are sweating, then you will need to increase your water intake accordingly. It’s also worth noting that this is advisable even if you don’t particularly feel thirsty; if you’ve lost fluids due to exercise, then they need to be replenished regardless of how well-hydrated you feel.


In conclusion... Increasing your water intake is often suggested as an essential for all health-related issues but, as we have pointed out above, the matter is a little more complex than is often presented. So, while it is important to note the potential issues caused by diuretics and exercise, as a general rule: drink water when you’re thirsty, and you shouldn’t go far wrong.

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New Years Resolutions That Will Help Your Health

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People often joke about new years resolutions because everyone always says the same ‘new year, new me’ line. They’ve become something of a meme, but I believe resolutions still have a big place in your life. Think of them as a way of forcing you to get your head screwed on and make significant changes that will benefit your life.

That’s the key for me; make your resolutions bring something positive to your life. Which is why I prefer things that will have a direct impact on your health and wellness. Here are a few ideas to help you kickstart 2019 with a new mindset and improved health:


Drive less, walk more

I think this is one of my favorite ideas as it’s such an easy thing to stick to. The problem with a lot of health-related resolutions is that they’re tough to commit to for a long time. As such, gym memberships spike in January and go down in March/April. But, if you make a promise to drive less and walk more, then you’re doing wonders for your health. Driving burns no calories and can be very mentally draining as well. Walking is easy on your joints, burns calories, keeps you fit, and helps improve your mood as well. Plus, it’s basically effortless - just walk to work instead of driving, or park your car further away and walk the rest of the distance, simple!


Give up alcohol

Giving up alcohol is a classic new years resolution, but one that can benefit you massively. A lot of people drink too much alcohol - particularly over the holiday period - and they don’t do anything about it. If you carry on consuming so many units every week, it won’t be long before you end up in an alcohol inpatient treatment center getting help for addiction. Alcohol is a highly addictive substance that can ruin your physical and mental health. Make the commitment to giving it up next year - or at least cutting down substantially - and you’ll see improvements in your overall health and wellbeing.


Eat less meat

Now, before you scream at me that you don’t want to turn vegan; relax! I’m not even saying you should become vegetarian, I’m merely suggesting you reduce the amount of meat you eat. Eating it every day can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, and there’s even evidence to suggest it shortens your life. There’s an interesting book called How Not To Die that goes into detail about this, so it could be worth picking up. Even if you have one or two meat-free days per week, this goes a long way to improving your overall health and ensuring you have a more balanced diet. Who knows, you may like these days so much that you change to a meat-free life full time!

These new years resolutions should be reasonably easy to stick to as they don’t require drastic lifestyle changes. Well, apart from the alcohol one, but if you struggle to cut down on that/give it up, then that shows you have a problem. Make a few changes to your life, and you’ll be amazed at the benefits they bring to your health.

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How To Beat A Hangover

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Drinking alcohol is like borrowing happiness from the next day – it’s fun there and then, but the next day you have to deal with the consequences, which often involves nausea and a killer headache. Some people are pretty much immune to hangovers, whilst other people can end up bedridden for the next day just by having a few drinks. If you suffer from the latter type of hangover, here are just a few ways in which you can beat the dreaded alcohol after-effects.

Eat before you drink

Lining your stomach is always a sensible option. Eating lots of carbs beforehand is especially worthwhile – the likes of brown rice, pasta and sweet potato will help you absorb alcohol more slowly. This can make the alcohol less of a payload for your body and more of a gradual hit that the body can prepare itself for.

Drink water

Alcohol may be a liquid, but it will actually dehydrate your body. After your night of drinking, try to drink a few glasses of water before you go to bed. The day after, you should then aim to drink 2 to 3 liters if possible. This will restore your body’s water levels and beat that headache.

Consider detox supplements

For those that want something more heavy duty, there are many types of medications aimed specifically at ridding hangovers. You can even try a 24 hour detox cleanse. You may be able to find such supplements in your local pharmacy or by searching online.

Load up on vitamins

In order for the liver to detox your body, it needs lots of vitamins. Foods such as spinach, avocado, banana and egg are some of the best choices the morning after as they are full of vitamins needed to help rid your body of the alcohol. You can also try taking vitamin supplements.

Exercise

A workout might be the last thing you want to do when you’re hanging, but physical activity could be just what your body needs to help cleanse yourself of the toxins. Exercise gets the blood flowing and the lymphatic system working, helping to get rid of toxins, whilst pumping the body with feelgood hormones that make it feel less drained.

Avoid caffeine

Caffeine is just another drug for your liver to try and process – a cup of coffee the next morning might seem like a good idea for making you more awake, but it could just make you feel worse. If you’re going to have a hot drink, try ginger tea which is caffeine-free and full of nutrients that can help fight nausea. Ideally, you should never mix caffeine and alcohol during a drinking session – Jager bombs and vodka and coke are certain to make things hard work for your liver and leave you feeling miserable the next day.

Don’t mix your drinks

Different drinks contain different types of alcohol and are processed in different ways. For this reason the body has a harder time getting rid of alcohol when you’ve mixed your drinks. Stick to one drink if you can – if you’re having wine stick to white or red.

Limit your alcohol

Of course, the most obvious way to prevent hangovers is to not drink as much. Many people forget that alcohol is effectively a poison. By sticking to a few drinks or going teetotal for the night, you won’t have to deal with the dreaded after effects - you don’t always need alcohol to have a good time.

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Squashing The Addictions Once And For All

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I get it, we can all find ourselves getting into bad habits when it comes to general things in life. Our lifestyle can change from one day to the next and there can be a lot of deciding factors in it. We now live in a world where technology and answers are at our fingertips, where things are more readily available to us than ever before, and with advancements in all sorts of ways, bad habits can develop. But these addictions don’t need to take over our lives.

I wanted to share with you some of the common addictions we can all face at some point,  and hopefully give you some comfort and direction on how to overcome them once and for all.

Are you addicted to drinking alcohol?

Alcohol can be the biggest issue some of us face, and it is because the addiction to it can vary so much. You have those people who just need that glass of wine at the end of each day. You have the people that can’t be out socially without a drink, and then you have the people that can’t get out of bed without a drink. All different version of addiction, but each one of them need to be handled, albeit differently. Often alcohol can be the answer after a tough day or when you are going through a tough time. But it is also known as a depressive and it can make things worse in your mind, not better. If you do think you have an issue, speak to someone regarding it.

Do you smoke more frequently?

Smoking is a bad habit that can really affect our health. It doesn't matter whether you smoke one cigarette a day or fifty, the chance of getting cancer is high because of it. Many people looking to kick the habit have switched over to vaping. Websites like License to Vape reviews different options for you, so it might be worth doing some research. You could also speak to health professionals about other methods available to you, but often just deciding to stop is the biggest change you can make.

Do you work too hard?

Would you believe me if I said there was an addiction to work and you could be struggling with it? Workaholism is a real thing, believe it or not. People are working harder than ever, chasing the big pay brackets and the difference in lifestyle it can make. But it can also be detrimental to your health if you don’t get enough rest. Try and ensure that you take time away from work every now and again. Enjoy annual leave and don’t overdo it when you don’t need to. Life's too short.

Are you endlessly scrolling your phone?

Finally, do you find that you are on your smartphone more than you should be? There is a real addiction to your phone and the endless scrolling you can do on social media. Perhaps not even taking in what your eyes are viewing. If you think you spend more time on Instagram than you do with your family, it is time to put the phone down and enjoy the art of conversation.

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A Great Framework: Building Healthy Bones

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As humans, we all benefit from a decent amount of structure. The greatest example of a structure in us, as people, is our bones. We may not be able to see them, but like depression and other internal issues, we feel them, but they’re not necessarily seen. So, what is the best way to build healthy bones, especially as bone density tends to weaken as we get older?

Boost Your Calcium Consumption

Yes, it may be obvious, but while people think that calcium is all they need to build healthy bones, this is not the main solution! The key is to pair calcium with vitamin D, as well as other key nutrients, like magnesium. If you have a diet rich in leafy green vegetables this will be a big help, but if you are struggling to fight a losing battle with a bone condition like osteoporosis, you may want to supplement your healthy diet. You can look at the AlgaeCal reviews on Amazon and see that a lot of people who are fighting osteoporosis or osteopenia have a lot of praise for it. However, remember that supplements aren’t a cure just by itself. You need to make sure you have the adequate diet in place to get the benefits of a wide range of nutrients, like vitamin K as well as Vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin.

Delve Into Your Family History

If you have any concerns about your bones, you may want to do some research into your family history to see if there are any issues in your immediate family, such as a parent or a sibling. If you have any close members of the family who have had osteoporosis, you are more likely to develop it yourself.

Start Exercising!

It appears to be the cure all for many health issues, and your bone health is one of those. If you start to integrate weight-bearing exercises into your workout routine, such as running, skiing, or jump rope, these have been shown to keep the bones strong. It's also beneficial to start resistance training, by doing weightlifting or starting at home with body weight exercises.

Cut Down On Your Vices

Yes, unfortunately all those things that we like to consume to excess aren’t particularly good for our bones. Not just nicotine and alcohol, but caffeine has a big impact on how our bodies can absorb calcium. So it's is recommended to cut back on your caffeine intake, but not give up on it entirely, just as long as you have more than your adequate share of calcium in your diet, not just from milk, but leafy vegetables.

Get Out In The Sunshine

As previously mentioned, vitamin D has a sufficient impact on our ability to absorb calcium. If there isn't much sunshine where you live, and you can't get the recommended 10 to 15 minutes in the sun three times a week, you can get your vitamin D intake through shrimp, sardines, egg yolks, or tuna.

 

Building our bones as a strong framework for our body is a priority. It's what will make us run faster and feel much more vibrant. So it's important for you to take control of your bone structure now.

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