Water, Water Everywhere

Water, water everywhere, but most of us still aren’t drinking enough. Are you?

Water makes up about 75 per cent of your brain, 92 per cent of your blood and 22 per cent of your bones. Your body needs it to control your temperature, remove waste, and get oxygen and nutrients to your cells. But most of us don’t drink anywhere near the required six to eight glasses a day. And Newspoll research suggests a third of Aussie adults are drinking three glasses or less a day.

According to dietitian Tara Diversi, “Once you’re thirsty, it’s too late – your body is already dehydrated.”

If your job involves physical activity you should have an extra two to four glasses a day. Tara suggests an extra 600ml of water per hour of exercise.

High and dry

If you don’t keep your fluid levels up, one of the first side effects you’ll feel is tiredness. This is because one of the first effects of dehydration is reduced blood flow. A lack of water may also trick you into feeling hungry. This can lead to unnecessary eating and weight gain. Constipation is also a result of dehydration. You may increase your fibre intake to increase your bowel movements, but fibre needs water to get rid of waste.

Bottled water or tap water?

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the choice of bottled water available. Some offer extra nutrients, others promise an energy boost. But while any is better than none, there is no evidence that bottled is better for you than tap. Tap water in most areas of Australia also contains fluoride to help protect against tooth decay, but it isn’t in all bottled waters. But keep your intake of sparkling water low. The ingredient used to produce the bubbles can reduce your calcium absorption, which may have a negative effect on your bone health.
Green ban

Dietitians may not see much difference between bottled and tap water, but environmentalist and green groups are definitely pushing the tap. Australians drink an estimated 150 million litres of bottled water a year and the Australian Conservation Foundation believes its manufacture and distribution is creating a huge carbon footprint. Then there are all those empty bottles. According to Clean Up Australia, only 35 per cent are recycled. The rest become landfill.