All of us have heard that we should “drink more water”, but why exactly is it so important? For all of us big or small, our bodies are made largely of water. Every cell, tissue and organ need water in order to function and survive. One HUGE component of water is also to help lubricate our joints and this is especially important in people with bleeding disorders as their joints are already susceptible to deterioration with each bleed into the joint.
Most people are told that they should drink 6-8 glasses of water a day, but this really can be dependent on each person’s body. The best thing you can do is listen to your body If you feel thirsty, drink some water! While water is best for hydration, many of us get a little bored of drinking plain water so here are a few other ways to get that water intake in:
- Infused water – fill a pitcher with fresh, ice cold water and add your favorite fruits or veggies i.e. cucumbers, blueberries, strawberries, watermelon, etc. Let them sit in the pitcher for at least 30 minutes and keep in there up to 3 days (just keep refilling the same pitcher). You’ll have some tasty flavored water free of artificial sweeteners and/or flavors!
- Add a slice of lemon or lime to your water glass or water bottle
- Use a water bottle with a straw – many people find it easier to suck out of a straw than to drink from a glass and will drink more just by switching to a straw.
- Sparkling water with NATURAL flavors such as Bubbly, LaCroix, etc. Watch out for some sparkling waters that say “sugar-free” or “zero calories”. These often have artificial sweeteners or artificial flavors in them which can actually dehydrate you therefore defeating the purpose.
- Unsweetened teas with lemon in them are great options both hot or iced.
Some signs of dehydration can include dry mouth, darker than normal urine, headache, confusion, fatigue, dizziness and/or no tears when crying. If you experience any of these signs and are unable to keep water down, make sure to call your physician right away. Remember that during times of activity and also the hot summer months we lose more water through sweat so it is important to drink up!
