What makes water so good for us?

28 October 2022

Watching what we’re drinking is a key part of a balanced diet. Fizzy drinks, milkshakes, energy drinks, squashes and fruit juices often contain high amounts of sugar, calories and in some instances caffeine, leading to tooth decay and weight gain.

But when it’s recommended that in the UK we should each be drinking six to eight glasses of fluid a day (about 1.2 litres), sticking to the clear wet stuff is not everyone’s cup of tea. Why is water so good for us?

Did you know, water accounts for 60% of your body weight and that every system in the body needs water to function?

So when we’re dehydrated the body cannot function properly and has to work harder leading to further dehydration. Water performs crucial roles such as carrying nutrients and waste products between major organs, helping to regulate body temperature, lubricating joints and acting as a shock absorber.

We lose water all the time through breathing, sweating, urinating and bowel movements, which means we need to regularly be taking on more water to replenish stocks and keep the body functioning.

Did you know, drinking tea, coffee, lower fat milk and sugar-free drinks all go toward your daily fluid count? Also, a portion of our fluid intake comes from the food we eat.

But with water’s added bonus of zero calories, zero sugar and zero caffeine, maybe we should all be aiming to take on a bit more of the plain stuff.

What if I don’t like the taste of water?

Try some of these flavour enhancing tips to get you drinking more water:

• Add in some chopped fruit, such as apple, lemon, frozen berries, kiwi, or strawberries, to boost flavour and visual appeal.
• Try adding a dash of fruit juice to a glass of sparkling water.
• Use a water filter.
• Add a splash of sugar-free squash.
• And don’t forget, tea, coffee (consider decaffeinated) and lower fat milk all count toward your daily fluid intake.