Water is vital for survival. It’s the necessary ingredient for life to exist. Therefore, we know humans and animals need it to remain healthy and perform mentally and physically.
If you’re reading this blog, you’re probably alive and well. But even if you’re not doing too good, you’ve at least had the minimum amount of water needed to reach this point. And that’s great! But I have some questions to ask you before we move forward.
Firstly, are you sure you’re drinking enough water?
And more importantly, are you positive you’re not neglecting your consumption?
After all, it’s easy to push yourself harder and forget about it.
And lastly, how much water do you think you’re supposed to have?
There’s a reason why I’m asking. Many students actually forget to drink anything! It’s usually because of the complex challenges their academic lives pose. In fact, some barely take a sip of water until they’re done with their work. That’s not good at all. But, of course, you know you need to stay hydrated if you want your body to function. Unfortunately, it’s easy to lose track of how much water we drink and how much we really need every day.
Thankfully, that’s why our qualitative research dissertation UK team is here. We will look at self-hydration and how students can effectively track it to stay healthy and fit.
But before we get into student solutions, let’s focus on what we need by answering the following:
How Much Water Do We Really Require in a Day?
Before we can start tracking what we drink, we must establish how much our bodies need. For instance, most people can remember someone learning we require eight glasses a day.
But is this true?
Do humans need to consume that much water in a day?
How can we tell?
Let’s find out:
Eight Glasses a Day? Do We Need It?
The total amount of water humans need to consume is a little tricky to answer, especially considering what the world tells us.
Since 1945, we’ve believed everyone needs 2.5 litres of water daily. Why? Back then, the US Food and Nutrition Board put out a recommendation for eight glasses a day. But most people don’t know that recommendation wasn’t based on scientific research. Moreover, they also stated that we could consume most of this water through the food we eat! That part didn’t spread as far and wide as the one preceding it.
And now, you can’t meet a person who doesn’t know that we need eight glasses of water. So, this statement might disappoint you if you grew up with the fact. But the truth is that we don’t need to drink 2.5 litres of water every day. Instead, the food we consume daily contains more than enough water to suffice.
Moreover, that’s where we get most of what we need—for instance:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Beverages like juice, coffee, or milk
But how much do we need? We didn’t answer that. So, let’s take a look:
How Much Water Do We Need?
How much is it if we don’t need to consume eight glasses daily?
The answer is: Well, it depends.
Everyone’s body is different. And so is the hydration they need. It can vary because of many factors like height, weight, and even gender or environment. In fact, even our level of physical activity can impact how much we need. Fortunately, you don’t need to worry about it too much. Why? Because it just so happens that your brain has a few built-in mechanisms to maintain a healthy fluid balance.
That’s right! Your brain knows how much water you need before you even have to think about it.
There’s a whole scientific side to how our bodies react to needing water. For instance, it releases the hormone called vasopressin. This increases water absorption. But the easiest response to identify is our level of thirst. When you need water, you get thirsty! That’s your body telling you it requires you to get up and take a drink. So, how much water we need isn’t even a question. Instead, it is, are you listening when your body’s running low on its water supply? Usually, it will take care of it on its own.
But what if you want to be in control? That’s okay! Let’s look at how you can control your hydration:
The Rules for Hydration
If your brain’s auto mechanisms are insufficient, you can also use a few techniques to check your body’s hydration levels. For instance, be aware of your thirst level. If you’re thirsty, grab a drink. Sounds simple enough, right? But there is one other thing to try. Another way to evaluate your hydration levels is checking each time you go to the bathroom.
What? Bathroom? That’s gross!
Be that as it may, you still might want to try it. Why? Because the color of our urine can change depending on how much water we have in our systems. For example, solid or dark yellow means you’re dehydrated. Then, you can grab a drink. Don’t worry! It doesn’t turn any other weird colors unless you’ve been bit by a radioactive waterbug. But that’s probably not going to happen.
What Else Do Students Need to Know about Hydration?
Here are a few more things to remember about staying hydrated:
Electrolytes
Another thing you can keep in mind when focusing on self-hydration is getting a balance of electrolytes. What’s an electrolyte? Simple! It’s a substance that conducts electricity when you mix it with water. But why would we need that? You don’t want to become an electric powered superhero. Don’t worry! That won’t happen. The human body just operates better with electrolytes in play!
They help us do everything. For instance, they:
- Regulate the nerves
- Help us with breathing and muscle movement
- Keep your body hydrated
How?
Our bodies use them to get water into the bloodstream.
So, make sure you get a healthy dose of the following electrolytes:
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Sodium
- Potassium
The Best Way for Students to Stay on Top of Hydration
Now you clearly understand what you need and how hydration works. But what is the next step? It’s simple! You just stay on top of hydration. How? With practical drinking habits, of course.
Just follow these guidelines:
- Drink water if you’re thirsty. That’s straightforward
- Ensure you eat enough amount of the right foods. That means vegetables, fruits, and high-quality proteins
- Always carry a bottle of water when leaving the house
- Don’t replace water with sugary or caffeinated drinks or carbonated sodas
Conclusion
That’s it! That’s everything you need to know about water, hydration, and drinking habits from the best dissertation help UK team. We hope this blog’s “to the point” or summarised nature was easy and insightful despite being a quick read. But, of course, there is still plenty you can learn about hydration. I mean, we’re no scientists. We’re just amazing writers and experts. But ultimately, self-hydration is something serious for students. And you’ll want to ensure you stay on top of it to remain ahead of your work and studies.
So, remember the basics. Drink plenty of water when you’re thirsty. And keep working hard to score good grades.
