With summertime just around the corner, now seems like a good time to talk about proper hydration. And let’s be clear, the issue of hydration doesn’t just concern road construction workers laying down asphalt under a hot sun or people working around furnaces in metallurgical smelters.
Truth is, people working in high temperature environments are generally aware of the stakes and most of them already follow routines and practices favoring proper hydration.
As surprising as it may sound, people working in – often air-conditioned – offices are usually the ones who tend to forget about proper hydration.
More than just a refreshment
We know you’ve probably heard it way to often, but we’re just happy to remind you that the human body is mostly made up of water. Like between 55% (for women) to 65% (for men).
You’re welcome.
Given that, it’s easy to understand why proper hydration is essential to one’s health. Among other things, hydration stimulates one’s metabolism, facilitates digestion and helps eliminate “waste” produced by one’s body. Conversely, failing to drink sufficiently can result in such problems as headaches, increased fatigue, reduced concentration and loss of memory.
And that’s without mentioning the consequences of a state of dehydration, which can be very serious and even, in some cases, irreversible.
Thirsty or not, drink up!
When you start feeling thirsty, your body is telling you that your fluid levels are running low. This means you cannot rely on your thirst to determine when it’s time to drink.
It is therefore important to develop habits or routines that will encourage you to drink regularly throughout the day like, for instance:
- Keeping a bottle or pitcher filled with fresh water on your desk
- Making a habit of stopping for a drink each time you walk by a drinking fountain or water cooler
- Starting each of your breaks by drinking a glass of water
- Putting pitchers filled with water and glasses on the table before each meeting
- Making sure there’s always something to drink in the office fridge
Bosses can do their part too by offering all their employees reusable, insulated bottles! *
* Just a suggestion.
Nothing beats dihydrogen monoxide
Say what?
“Dihydrogen monoxide” (two hydrogen and one oxygen atoms) is a fictitious scientific name for… water!
Water, then, is the best choice when it comes to proper hydration. After all, what could replace the water lost by one’s body better than water itself? Not to mention that water is fat-free and has zero calories, and is generally free and easily available.
And as waters go, you should definitely opt for good old tap water, which is quite healthy and tastes pretty good in most or our cities, instead of water in single-use bottles, which is not only damageable for the environment, but can cost nearly $1500 over a year.
Beware of sweetened beverages too! Unless consumed moderately, things like carbonated soft drinks (aka “soda”), juice or even “flavored” water, can have adverse effects on one’s health.
Not a fan of water?
Now if, like the author of the present text, you don’t really like – or really don’t like – drinking water, you can always work around the problem by replacing it with carbonated water (which you can make yourself at home with one of those domestic machines) or by adding fresh or frozen fruits (lemon, lime, raspberries, melon, etc.), fresh mint or cilantro leaves, cucumber or green tea to enhance its flavor.
Cheers!