You may think it’s obvious, but a few of these may surprise you!

When you think you’re hungry

Actually you might really be thirsty. Most people don’t realize they’re actually thirsty when hunger seems to strike.

The brain recognises these triggers as the same, so before you hit the fridge drink some water first. Then give it a few minutes to see if it satisfies the urge to eat.

When you wake up

First thing in the morning is one of the best times to hydrate because your body has gone through a long fast.

For a simple jump start, squirt half a lemon in your glass of  water first thing for a bright boost of antioxidant phytonutrients, vitamin C, and potassium.

Whenever you sweat

Anything that makes you sweat — a sauna or a hot bath, time outside on a hot, muggy day — will cause your body to lose fluid.

The same applies to exercise because as your muscles warm up, your body perspires to cast off heat. You’ll need to cool down with lots of water.

Before, during, and after exercise

You need lots of water to replace what you sweat out. How much? Before you work out or spend time outside, fill up your bottle with 16 to 20 ounces of water.

Drink 6 to 12 ounces about every 10-15 minutes while you’re active and afterwards, drink up again — another 16 to 24 ounces.

When you’re sick

Hydration is key to healing when you’re sick. Symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, and fever can cause extreme water loss.

At the first sign of illness, drink lots of water, especially if you’re not hungry. Stay away from alcohol and caffeinated drinks as they’ll dry out your system even more.

During a flight

Ever wonder why you get so parched and thirsty when you fly? It’s all about altitude as the higher the plane goes, the drier the cabin air becomes — and around half the air in your cabin flows in from outside.

To combat the super-low humidity level, carry on an empty water bottle to fill up as needed during your flight.

When having a massage

Your massage therapist will thank you if you drink water before your session as your muscles will be softer and more supple, which makes it easier for them to manipulate the tender tissue.

This body work releases substances you should flush out afterward with plenty of water, too. This is extra important if you have a deep tissue or other heavy-duty massage.

Before your period

You can ease premenstrual discomfort and reduce bloating by drinking lots of water before your period, as well as during.

One of the biggest causes of cramps or headaches is dehydration and a recent study of young women with dysmenorrhea — very painful menstruation — found that drinking more water shortened their cycles, eased pelvic pain, and lessened their need for pain relief.

To avoid that midday slump

It’s mid afternoon and your energy levels plummet, but don’t start a new pot of coffee.  Instead, have a tall glass of water — maybe sparkling with lemon or other flavouring to bump up your mood.

Your hydration state directly affects your mood, memory, and visual perception, the British Journal of Nutrition has reported.

When you have a headache

One of the top migraine triggers is dehydration and some people report that even a slight dip in fluid intake can bring on an intense headache. It also can make you feel fuzzy, and in some cases even require medical treatment.

Especially if you’re migraine-prone, keep a water bottle handy at all times and track your intake. If you feel a twinge coming on, a glass can save your day.

Before eating 

Drinking water before a meal — known as “preloading” — might help you lose weight. A small study tested people who drank 500ml – that’s a little over 16 ounces – of tap or bottled water about 30 minutes before mealtimes and throughout the day as they wished.

Over 12 weeks, the preloaders lost almost 3 pounds more than those who didn’t follow the protocol.

When you want to lose weight

Water is more than a calorie-free way to help yourself feel full as it may also rev up your metabolism.

In one study, 50 girls with extra weight drank about 2 cups of water half an hour before breakfast, lunch, and dinner with no other changes in their diet. After 8 weeks, they lost weight and lowered their body mass index and body composition scores.

Water also speeds up lipolysis, your body’s process of burning fat for energy.

To boost your brain power

Did you know almost three-fourths of your brain contains fluid? If your levels dip too low, the blood vessels in this organ shrink.

This can affect your coordination, short-term memory, attention span, and stamina, a Chinese study found.

So if you feel tired and muddled, simply drinking water can help you bounce back.

How much is best?

During menopause, dryness is often an issue so drinking 8 to 12 glasses of water a day can help with these symptoms and also reduce the bloating that can occur with hormonal changes.

But this includes hydration from your diet and your own needs depend on your health, how active you are, and the climate where you live.

Helpful information: 

Happily we are all a lot more conscious now about the need to keep hydrated, and that’s not just during the summer.

Bloating is certainly an issue for many women, so if you would like some more tips on how to deal with it then this article will help.

https://anna.blog.wellsprings-health.com/tips-to-reduce-bloating/