How much water should we drink as we get older ?

We all know that it is important to stay hydrated, right?......Good!

The real question is, roughly how much water should we be drinking on a daily basis, and does that change the older we get?

As we age, our body's fluid reserve decreases In size, reducing our ability to conserve water and our thirst sense becomes less responsive.

These problems are caused by chronic illnesses such as diabetes and dementia, and by the use of certain medications.

Drinking sufficient amounts of water allows the body to maintain blood pressure, eliminate bodily waste & regulate temperature through sweating.

As we age, dehydration can often leads to:

So how much water should you/your elderly loved one be drinking?

The answer is a minimum of 1.5 – 2 LITRES on a daily basis!

This is due to the fact that every single day we lose approximately 2-3 LITRES of water through; sweat, urine , bowel movements & even breathing!

Now this may seem like a lot, so here are some tips and tricks you can use to encourage yourself and your loved ones to drink more water!

Drink a glass after every bathroom break (Habit creation)
Dilute sugary drinks with water and ice
Eat water-rich foods such as; cucumbers (96% water), courgettes (95% water), watermelons (92% water), and grapefruits (91% water), apples (83% water) etc
Stick to a one-to-one rule if/when drinking alcohol (e.g.: one cup of water with every alcoholic beverage)
Add flavor to your water (grapefruit, strawberries, lemon, cucumber, ginger, celery, basil, mint, lavender)