Everyone knows water is essential to the human body. Drinking water is important, but it's even more important for those suffering from an IBD, as they are more prone to dehydration. We should drink 2 to 3 litres of water every day. The number depends on your gender, your food intake and your physical training. Since your body naturally eliminates a lot of water, you need to drink a lot of water.

Here are 5 tips to help you drink more water every day:

Get a nice bottle, glass or mug
Yes, it's more fun to drink in a nice bottle than in the commercial brands one. this is true for glasses and mugs too. Choose the size you wat (between 250 ml and 1 litre) and find out how much water you need to drink every day. It's easier to keep track of your water intake if you use the same bottle/mug/glass.

Drink frequently
Instead of drinking huge quantities of liquid all at once, drink smaller quantities of water throughout the day. For example, drink one bottle in the morning, one before lunch, one in the afternoon and one at night. You should drink 2 litres or 8 glasses of water every day. Note that our brain tells us we are thirsty because or body is dehydrating. Don't wait until you're already thirsty to drink water!

Leave bottles and glasses here and there
Having your water close to you will remind you to drink frequently. For example, a glass of water on your bedside table and in the bathroom, a bottle of water on your desk, in your car and even in your purse or your backpack! Keeping a jug of water in the fridge is also a good idea. You can also carry a water bottle with you and reuse it throughout the day.

Drink different kinds of water
If you're tired of drinking plain water, try these options out:

• Drink lemon water. It's been proven it has a lot of benefits on our metabolism. Fill your water bottle with water at room temperature. Squeeze the juice of half the lemon and slice the other half in rounds, and add them to your water. Make sure your water isn't too acidic.
• Dilute your juice with water to reduce sugar and increase your water consumption
• Drink tea (Happy Kombucha from David's Tea is really good!), herbal tea, broths (so comforting during winter), soups, etc.
• Drink flavoured water
  Making your own flavoured water is fun and it's pretty easy! Cut fruits that you like, like strawberries, lemons, or oranges. It looks great and it makes you want to drink your water. Watch out for bottles of flavoured water sold in stores. They contain a lot of sugar! It's better to make your own.
• Drink sparkling water (it can be flavoured too)
  When it's hot outside, drink a bottle of cold carbonated water to quench your thirst. I personally love carbonated water with lemon flavour.

Eat fruits and vegetables
Pick fruits and vegetables that contain a lot of water for your snacks at work, school or before you go to bed. A few examples of these are peaches, strawberries, pineapples, watermelons, oranges, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, carrots and marrows. You can also cut them and put them in small containers. I tell you, it really makes it easier to bring them at work!

Finally, it's important to adapt your water intake to your activities. So if you do physical activities, start drinking water 24 to 48 hours before you do them. Diarrhea, fever and vomiting can cause dehydration, so make sure you drink more water when it happens to you. And drink more water when it's hot outside, because it makes your body dehydrate faster.

Marie-Noël

Brought to you by: Premier Ostomy Center