Got Water?
Experts say we need to drink ~8 glasses of water a day. The drier the climate, taking certain medications (i.e. anti-histamines, diuretics, decongestants), and the more physically active we are, the higher the demand. We might already know some of the benefits that water has on our bodies - boosting alertness and performance, mood, weight loss, skin (the list goes on) - but did you know that drinking water also supports our eye health?
A protective moisture layer.
Our eyes are naturally surrounded by a tear film layer. Our tear layer acts as a front line that keeps our eyes protected by washing away debris every time we blink. Staying well hydrated ensures that our eyes’ tear layer maintains its moisture seal.
Helps with dry eyes.
One of the causes of dry eyes includes when our eyes stop producing enough tears. Not drinking enough water can cause an overall fluid loss in the body, which leads our eyes to dry out as well. Suffering from dry eyes? Try upping your water intake.
Alleviates eye strain.
As we discussed in an earlier post, eye strain from extended use of digital devices can cause the eyes to feel tired, our vision to fluctuate, and potentially lead to headaches. Symptoms of eye strain can be exacerbated by dehydration. Drinking plenty of water can help alleviate eye strain by flushing out excess salt in the body and properly hydrating the eyes.
Tips to drinking more water in our day:
Keep water bottles on hand.
We’re always on the run, so the more accessible they are, the more likely we’ll be to reach for a drink.
track your intake on a mobile app.
We rely on our phones for just about anything these days. Why not use them as tools to support our health?
Scheduled reminders.
Start with an hourly reminder. Maybe a phone alert? A sticky note on your desktop? Alexa! Whatever the method, it’s a simple cue for a quick water break.
Choose sparkling water over juice or soda.
In the mood for a fizzy drink? Add lemon to your sparkling water and, voila! You get carbonation with your hydration.
fancy a straw?
Whether a colorful plastic or a modern reusable, using a straw adds a nifty accessory to your task. BONUS- Drinking from a straw allows us to take in more water at a time over sipping. Mocktails anyone?
A glass before a meal.
Turn it into a habit. Not only will it boost your daily intake, drinking a glass of water before a meal will also prevent you from over eating. A lot of us eat more than we realize until we’re stuffed because we think it’s the hunger talking, when it could actually partly be from dehydration.
Start to your day, End of your day.
Start your day with a glass of water when you wake up (energy booster) and a glass before bedtime (prevents against bad breath). That’s already 2 servings of your daily goal!
How about a refill?
As soon as your water bottle runs empty, don’t let it sit idle. The longer you wait to refill your bottle, the less likely you are to drink any water in that time than if you had refilled it in the first place.
Thirsty yet?