The human body is composed of approximately 60% water, and your organs and tissues use the water to regulate body temperature and maintain bodily functions. That said, it is important to keep yourself hydrated since you lose water through breathing, perspiration, and digestion.
It’s suggested to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to stay healthy, but this number can actually vary quite a bit with daily factors such as physical activity, climate, illness, pregnancy, and other health problems. If you fall into any of these categories, you might want to drink more than 8 glasses of water a day. This helps to avoid dehydration and keeps your body working at optimal level.
This image is an example of a
Workhealthy™ banner available from Accuform Signs as a reminder to stay hydrated.
Signs and symptoms of dehydration include:
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Dry mouth
- Excessive thirst
- Muscle weakness
Adequate water intake enables the body to function properly. Since you lose water when engaging in physical activity, sweating in severe heat, or when developing a fever, it’s important to increase your fluid intake to replenish your body’s hydration level.
Drinking water daily can improve many health conditions since every system in your body depends on water. There are several health benefits to drinking water, but here are my top 3:
- Lose Weight
- Younger Looking Skin
- Good Mood
OK, so why these three? That’s easy! Almost everyone wants to lose weight. Unlike many drinks, water has zero calories. It helps reduce hunger and detoxifies your body of unwanted chemicals. Drinking enough water also hydrates your skin and keeps your skin moisturized and smooth. And last but not least, it makes you feel good. Drinking plenty of water throughout your day will help reduce headaches, fatigue, constipation and helps fight against sickness. Water makes you feel great and look great all at the same time.
Some easy ways to keep hydrated in the workplace is to bring a refillable water bottle and keep it by your desk. Be sure the lid is tight to prevent slip hazards while on the job. Another way is to keep hydrated is to limit your caffeine intake. Consuming large amounts of caffeinated drinks such as coffee, soda, and tea can cause a diuretic effect and can dehydrate your body.
There are also several
smart phone apps out there to remind you to drink more water.
Use our
Workhealthy™ banners and posters to help motivate your co-workers and/or employees to want to stay healthy!