10 Reasons to Drink More Water During Menopause
If you are a regular client of mine, you may have noticed that I repeatedly recommend drinking plenty of water, and I am delighted at the number of women who get back to me saying that they have upped their water intake and their symptoms have reduced.
🤔 Why is Water So Important During the Menopause?
Our bodies are at least 75% water, and if we neglect our water intake, this can cause a whole raft of symptoms that can look suspiciously like menopausal ones, such as:
🔹 Joints: Dehydration can cause joint inflammation and pain. 💧
🔹 Skin: Dehydration can lead to rough, wrinkly, and tough skin, triggering itchiness. 🌵
🔹 Mood: Dehydration can cause mood swings, anxiety/panic attacks, and stress palpitations. 😓
🔹 Memory: Dehydration affects brain function, causing fuzziness and forgetfulness. 🧠
🔹 Headaches: Dehydration is a common trigger for headaches. 🤕
🔹 Constipation/Bloating: Dehydration slows down gut motility and elimination.
🔹 Hot Flushes: Dehydration affects the nervous system, triggering hot flushes, and sweating exacerbates dehydration. 🌡️
🔹 Fatigue: Dehydration can sap energy levels. 😴
🔹 Bladder Problems and Infections: Dehydration can irritate the bladder. 🚽
🔹 Night Palpitations: Dehydration, especially due to night sweats, can cause palpitations. 💓
Ways to Increase your Water Intake
The recommended daily water intake for women can vary based on individual needs, activity levels and environment. It’s important to listen to your body and drink water especially when you’re thirsty. I would recommend that you drink at least 6 cups of water daily (1 cup = 250 ml or 8 oz). If you find it challenging to drink water, you’re not alone… many of us struggle to meet the recommended daily intake. Here are some tips for incorporating more water into your diet.
- Carry a water bottle: One of the easiest ways to increase your water intake is to carry a water bottle with you wherever you go. Choose a water bottle that’s convenient to carry, like one with a strap or one that fits in your bag, and make sure it’s big enough to hold enough water to last you throughout the day (or can be easily refilled wherever you are).
- Add flavour to your water: If you’re someone who doesn’t enjoy the taste of plain water, try flavouring it with fresh fruit, herbs or spices. This can make drinking water more enjoyable and appealing. Some popular flavour combinations include lemon and mint, cucumber and basil, pineapple and lime.
- Drink before meals: Drinking water before meals can help improve digestion and prevent dehydration. It can also be used as a way to control overeating. Try drinking a cup of water before each meal and see if it makes a difference in your digestion and overall hydration levels.
- Keep track of your intake: Having a clear picture of how much water you’re drinking can also help you identify the times of day when you’re not drinking enough, so you can make adjustments accordingly. You can use a water bottle that has measurement marks or keep a journal. You can also use a “water reminder” app that can give an estimate on how much water your body needs and remind you to drink water at set times to fulfil your daily goal.
- Include foods that have a higher water content: Many vegetables and fruits have a high water content and should be included in your diet to increase your intake. Easy ones to include are cucumbers, watercress, celery, lettuce, watermelon, berries and citrus fruits. You can also incorporate other foods such as soups/broths, coconut water, smoothies and decaffeinated teas (either hot or cold). Sorry ladies … not including alcohol in this list!
Conclusion🎯
Drinking enough water can help reduce the severity of your menopausal symptoms, improve digestion and maintain overall health. So, let’s make a conscious effort to drink more water daily for all those benefits! If you try this let me what symptoms it has helped you with.
Take action and eliminate your hormonal symptoms😫. This is one of the issues that Best Weight On You Plan helps to resolve. Email: melita@bestweightonyou.com …. and lets get the conversation started.
