You wake up, go to class, write a paper, go to the gym, finish 600 pages of reading and go to bed. It’s a miracle if you have time to eat a decent meal, and even more of a miracle if you remember to drink water throughout the day. Drinking water is definitely not on the top of a college student’s list of things to do. From studying to partying, we sometimes forget to reach for a glass of water.
If you want to get a kick-start to a healthy diet, you can begin by simply drinking more water. There are so many benefits to drinking water. Not only will drinking water make you feel more energized and happy, you may also end up losing some weight.
What you might not already know, your morning pick-me-up could actually be doing just the opposite. Having a cup of coffee can actually decrease your energy because caffeine is a diuretic. Coffee makes you dehydrated and therefore, you will have less energy. When drinking coffee (like so many of us do) make sure you follow up with a water bottle to try and counteract the effects of dehydration.
How do you know when you are dehydrated? We should drink around 1 liter of water a day as a general rule for staying hydrated. Signs of dehydration include dry lips, fatigue and sometimes even hunger. That’s right, hunger. Often when we feel hungry, we are confusing that with just being thirsty. So next time you are looking for your 3 PM snack, reach for a bottle of water and see how you feel after quenching your thirst.
The weekend is the most dangerous time for a college student when it comes to being dehydrated. The culprit is of course, alcohol. Before going out, make sure you are well hydrated because alcohol is another diuretic. Drinking excessive amounts, especially hard liquor, will create a signal to your body to release the water in it. The reason for those awful hangovers you’ve been getting is from a combination of dehydration and loss of electrolytes. Make sure you are drinking water throughout your night, before bed and also when you wake up.
Dehydration can lead to many things that you may not realize are related including fatigue, nausea, and muscle cramps. If you are experiencing any of these things, start by drinking water. You’ll be surprised how much better you feel once you up your water intake.
Don’t have money for expensive packages of water bottles? Go green! Invest in a reusable water bottle. It takes less than a minute to walk into any dining hall on campus to fill up your water bottle, and with unlimited swipes you have no excuse not to!