Drinking Enough Water

Your body is about 70% water, so drinking enough pure clean water is essential for optimal health - particularly on these hot summer days. How much you need to drink each day depends on your age, activity level, climate and more. But you don’t have to worry about trying to figure out the exact amount your body needs, or tracking how many glasses you’ve consumed in a day. Just be aware of when your body says that you are thirsty - this is the obvious signal that it’s time to replenish your fluids. As we get older our thirst mechanism works less efficiently, so it’s good for pensioners to drink a bit more often than thirst demands.

An easy way to see if you are getting dehydrated is to observe the colour of your urine and how frequently you urinate. The colour should be pale yellow, but if it is dark yellow then you are likely not drinking enough water. If your urine is scant or if you haven’t urinated in many hours, that is also an indication that you’re not drinking enough. Ultimately, however, listening to your body and letting your thirst be your guide is the best solution for getting the water your body needs each day. •