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The Importance of Hydration

water

Published on 07 June 2020 05:26 PM

Healthy Living for Older People

Our Healthy Habits team has put together a series of articles to help you get and stay healthy.

As well as EATING healthy, we need to make sure that we are DRINKING in a healthy way. Staying hydrated is critical to human life and helping us to function normally.

What is hydration and dehydration?

Water makes up two thirds of our body. Dehydration occurs when we do not drink enough fluids to maintain that healthy balance within our bodies.

Here are some tips about staying hydrated and why it’s important:

  • Good hydration prevents: urinary tract infections (UTIs), headaches, constipation, dizziness that can lead to falls, confusion, kidney stones, pressure ulcers/skin conditions and general poor health
  • The general advice is that adults should aim for about 6-8 drinks a day of about 300ml, preferably unsweetened drinks such as water, milk, tea and coffee (without the sugar), sugar free soft drinks etc.
    HOWEVER, you may need to drink more on hot days or while we are exercising.
  • Remember, if you are feeling thirsty, that means you are already becoming dehydrated.
  • Another way to find out if you are dehydrated is to check the colour of your urine in the chart. If your urine is too dark, you need to get more fluids into your body- the best fluid being water
  • TEA AND COFFEE drinkers- watch out! Relying on these drinks to get your fluids can actually have an adverse effect as both contain caffeine and caffeine is a diuretic
  • If you experience diarrhoea, make sure you take in plenty fluids as diarrhoea can lead to dehydration. If you are concerned, seek advice from your GP

Diet and nutrition are just one of the areas of health that our new Healthy Habits programme will be focussing on. If you are interested in finding out more, please call 0191 2808484 or email Caitlin: caitlin.calvert@ageuknorthtyneside.org.uk

 

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