As you get older you need to drink more water to keep hydrated to compensate for your body’s decrease in its ability to retain water, and to prevent various health issues that become more common with age such as constipation, UTIs, and cognitive impairment.
Here are a few ways to do this:
Drink water throughout the day: Sip it regularly even if you don’t feel thirsty and try and aim for 2 litres of water a day by breaking it down into small glasses.
Include hydrating foods in your diet like cucumbers, watermelon, strawberries, oranges, tomatoes and lettuce. Consuming soups will also help.
Choose hydrating beverages like water, herbal teas, decaf coffee, and milk. Sugary and caffeinated drinks can have a diuretic effect so should be avoided. Try flavoured water if you don’t like plain water.
Set reminders via your alarm clock, mobile phone or smart speaker device, like Alexa or have a chart on the fridge to remind you.
Remember to monitor your urine colour and if it isn’t clear or pale yellow, you need to drink more! Also remember that some medications can increase the risk of dehydration by increasing urine output or causing dry mouth. If you take medications that affect your fluid balance, talk to your healthcare provider about strategies to stay hydrated safely.
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