How hydration helps you feel GOOD through the holidays

This week, we're talking about another way you can stay healthy during the holidays: by drinking enough water.

You can review the full list of 5 ways to care for your body at this time of year here.

We all know that water is good for our bodies! But most of us struggle to know HOW to stay hydrated. That's even more true in the busyness of the holidays, when drinking water is the last thing on our minds.

That's why we are taking some time to break this down today.

First, I want you to understand WHY drinking water is important to maintain your health and your exercise routine.

Many of us are chronically dehydrated. In fact, we can get so used to drinking too little that our bodies adapt to living without enough water.

One effect of this is that we stop feeling thirsty. In fact, if you only feel thirsty when you exercise or eat salty food, that's a sign that you are chronically dehydrated.

In reality, our bodies need water throughout the day, regardless of how active we are.

This means we can’t just wait for our bodies to tell us when we need a drink. Instead, we need to plan to drink more water. 

This is even more important during the holiday season. Your body is exposed to more stress and unhealthy foods, which can increase inflammation. Staying hydrated is one way to counteract those effects and protect your body.

Learning to hydrate your body is so valuable! Good hydration not only reduces chronic pain, it also protects us from symptom flares.

As you begin to feel better, you will find that doing your exercises becomes easier too. 

(If you’re someone who dreads exercising because you feel pain, this could be especially helpful for you!)

When your body is hydrated, your exercise tolerance also goes up. So you won’t just feel better: you can actually progress faster as well.

With that in mind, here are my tips for learning to hydrate your body:

Figure out your water intake target.

As a quick rule of thumb, you should be drinking 1 ounce of water for every 2 pounds of bodyweight. In metric, that's 100mL for every 3 kilos you weigh.

You don't need to start drinking your target amount right away - your body won't be ready to absorb it. Instead, start to gradually increase your water intake over time.

Just like with exercise, slow and steady wins the race, and a little bit goes a long way.

If you find the taste of water unpleasant, that's OK.

Remember, your body isn't used to being well hydrated. Try drinking just a few sips of water. Over time, your body will learn to recognise that water is good, and it will become easier to drink.

(You can also try adding electrolytes to your water. Electrolytes help you to absorb water, and they add a different taste.)

You want to spread your water intake through the day, so make sure that you start drinking in the morning. An easy way to remember is to keep a glass by your bed. When you wake up in the morning, take a drink right away.

I find that once I have had one glass of water, it's easier to drink another one.

Just one last thing for today! Before you close this post, take a moment to ask yourself:

“When was the last time I had a drink of water?”

If it's been a little while, this is a great moment to grab your water bottle and take a few extra sips.

You’ve just taken an important step to preparing your body for the holidays!