This year has been a whirlwind of ill-health for me but the biggest issue I have faced is accepting that some of my health issues I faced were due to one of those most basic things … water, or lack there of.
Over the years I had banished water in favour of fizzy and carbonated drinks and my body had obviously taken to sending me warning signals.
I was tired, couldn’t function, irritable, thirsty and even suffered with regular headaches, but it wasn’t until I read an article about what the side effects of dehydration dawned on me and over the last few months I have tackled this very subject head on and not just with my own body and water drinking habits, also with Joshua too.
I guess through the process of addressing my naughty ways it really dawned on me that children learn from example and I want my children to be as fit and healthy as they can be so I have taken to banning fizzy carbonated and sugary drinks in the house and now we all drink bottled water.
I tend to buy sports bottles and there is never an excuse to not have one to hand.
When I got the gym I take 2 with me and I now pack a bottle of Highland Spring water for Joshua now so has one for school that I marker pen his name onto.
We are lucky that Joshua’s school thinks it’s equally as important to keep the children well hydrated to so this makes my life easier but even if his school didn’t support us sending a bottle of water in we could certainly look at sending one in for lunchtime.
So why is it vital to keep those little humans really well hydrated?
Kids bodies cant regulate their body heat with sweating like adults can and so have a tendency to overheat!
Children very rarely are able to tell when they are dehydrated and don’t recognise the very first stages of being thirsty and so need our help to keep sipping through the day.
For adults it becomes second nature to drink regularly if it is something that our parents encouraged with us. Ensuring we follow suit with our children and starting a good pattern of regular water drinking is a great way to encourage them to drink regularly and so it should become second nature.
In comparison to adults children tend to need more water for their size than adults with most statistics recommending at least 6-8 cups of water a day!
I personally am so pleased we addressed the water drinking as a family and hope that long may it continue that we feel less sluggish, can finally concentrate and for me my skin has drastically improved. However for Joshua being well hydrated in the day time means he has more energy and has become a happy more rested little guy.
Disclosure: I’m working with Highland Spring and BritMums in a paid relationship promoting the #TermTimeEssentials campaign about the importance of hydration to kids. Visit http://highlandspringmagazine.com for more advice and tips
Well done! As someone who had a can of coke every day for over 9 years. I know how hard this can be. I too have a love of water. My boys opt for that too
Our daughter drinks like a fish (do fish drink?) whereas our son needs regularly reminding.
Sorry to hear you have had ill health but I am glad that it sounds like you are on the mend. Drinking water will certainly help with all that, and you are obviously leading by example and instilling great habits into your kids!
aww thanks Nadine i am certainly trying 🙂 x
i always suffer with a headache whenever I have not drank enough water. i am sorry you have suffered of late with ill health but drinking well will help and show your children how good it is for you x
Drinking water can be so important just to maintain regular health. Thanks for a great post.
Oh as a grown up I can agree that water is soooooo good for your skin. We drink lots of water in our family too x
Well done for the switch to water. You would think that any drink would be great, but you are right certain fizzy drinks are just really bad for you. This is why I love our SodaStream when we need some fizz! Also leading by example is the best thing.
water definitely does make us feel better. I know it can be a struggle to drink it to begin with but when I do I wonder why I didn’t do it sooner, as it makes me feel so much better.
Sounds like you’re doing great with drinking water yourself. I’m generally quite good when I’m at home but if I’m out and about I always forget!
our bodies are very clever at telling us or giving us signs. We just have to listen to our bodies, pause for a moment, reflect and do the right thing. Glad you are feeling better. I also at times feel sapped of energy and I think it’s largely down to water levels. If only we have a gauge like a car so we know when we are running low on fuel ourselves! xx
How grown up does he look in his uniform?! For us, water is just such a staple of family life and those bottles are just so easy for the kids to drink from x