The Hydration Series is sponsored by Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream Compact Hydrating Colour Corrector SPF 25
We’ve been told to drink water by everyone from our mothers to teachers and health practitioners, but how many of us are actually meeting our daily hydration quota? And for those of us who really aren’t keen on drinking water by the litre — especially during those winter months — are there any other ways to stay hydrated?
Rescu. spoke to the experts to find out just how important it is to stay hydrated and rounded up ten top tips for hydration that step outside the box.
Benefits of Hydration
The benefits of staying hydrated are innumerable, reaching all the way from warding off disease and helping to repair muscles, to looking beautiful and losing weight.
‘Hydration lubricates the mucous membranes which protect them from external allergens, toxins and bugs,’ says naturopath Anthia Koullouros. ‘Also the type of hydrating fluid can further increase hydration such as a bone stock which is rich in gelatin, a hydrocollidal substance. This also carries anti-inflammatory nutrients and electrolyte minerals which further enhance hydration.’
Kate Troup, naturopath and Founder of W8less, also avidly recommends proper hydration, pointing to the many weight loss benefits. ‘Staying well hydrated also helps to keep your digestive system moving, an important part of feeling well and reducing bloating.’ In addition, dehydration is often mistaken for hunger so staying well hydrated could help stop those winter hunger pangs.
For those who find it hard to meet the recommended eight glasses a day, it’s not so easy. To help you out, we’ve rounded up ten top tips for staying hydrated outside of drinking water.
Top 10 ways to stay hydrated for people who don’t love water:
- Eat Fruit. Fruits are an excellent source of water, so by fulfilling our daily fruit quota, we are also getting much-needed hydration. Watermelon is the best choice (with an impressive 90% water content), with other melons and citrus fruits such as orange and grapefruit following close behind.
- Limit Alcohol. Alcohol is a powerful dehydrator, so if you’re not a big water drinker, be sure to limit your alcohol intake to make the water that you do drink count.
- Give it a Twist. If you find water boring, add a little interest by tailoring a jug with slices of lemon, cucumber, raspberries, or a sprig of fresh mint.
- Eat Vegetables. Vegetables aren’t quite as hydrating as fruits, but there are still many vegetables that can provide you with the extra hydration you need to get through the day. The best veggie choices include celery, cucumbers, and lettuce. Kate Troup adds, “these foods are great for weight loss because they’re also high in fibre, which keeps you feeling full and prevents you reaching for that chocolate bar!”
- Use Unrefined Salt. When cooking with salt, choose unrefined sea salts rather than processed table salt. High quality raw salts are key to cell health and hydration as well as being lower in sodium.
- Coconut Water. Jump on the coconut water bandwagon and drink this trending beverage to hydrate in style. Choose an organic coconut water without added sugars and preservatives to reap the greatest hydrating benefits.
- Make Hydrating Meals By combining hydrating ingredients you can design a diet that is full of water, without having to up the cups. Check out our top four hydrating recipes, including a choose-your-own-adventure Chia Pudding, here.
- Limit Coffee Intake. Many researchers believe that the diuretic effects of coffee cause dehydration. To avoid this, limit your coffee intake throughout the day or be sure to follow every cup with a more hydrating beverage.
- Drink Herbal Tea. If you find water boring, or prefer a hot beverage at your desk, try herbal teas. ‘Not only do herbal teas add hydration but they carry therapy,’ says Anthia Koullouros. ‘Therapeutically blended according to the principles of Traditional Herbal Medicine, gives each tea an emotional, physical and mental health benefit of calm, energy, clarity, restoration or detoxification.’
10. Remind Yourself. If it’s not so much a case of disliking water, but rather case of forgetting about it, set a reminder on your phone or develop a system such as drinking a large glass of water before each meal.
To take your hydration levels up a notch and reap the beauty benefits, combine these ten tips with sensible water intake and highly hydrating beauty products.
The Hydration Series is sponsored by Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream Compact Hydrating Colour Corrector SPF 25