Water isn't Boring!

Right, well here goes my first article. But I'll let you know a bit about me first. I'm Dan and I’m 16. About 18 months ago I used to spend practically all of my free time on the computer and most of my diet consisted of crisps and chocolate. But I felt the need for a lifestyle change, so I ditched all the unhealthy food, started eating a more balanced diet and swapped my computer for a mountain bike. And 18 months on I now lead a much healthier life, eating lots of fruit and veg along with cycling on my road and mountain bikes, running and doing a daily exercise routine. I also have a weekend job working at a local farm shop which I love as I work for a great family and it has allowed me to develop a good knowledge of local food producers. I could write a long list of how it has changed my life for the better, but we'll leave that for another time.

Today I'm going to be writing about the benefits of water. When I got past my primary school years I was brought up to drink a lot of water. I remember in the mornings Dad used to come through with a massive beer glass of water which he made me drink before I went to school.

It's not until you get older, though, that you'll understand what benefits water has. Half of our body weight is made up of water and without it our bodies wouldn't be able to function properly.

Water helps to prevent headaches and dizziness, so don't reach for the tablets straight away; it's more than likely that your headache has been caused from being dehydrated so drinking water should make it go away.

Water also helps to clear your skin of any dirt or bacteria due to it flushing away toxins in your body. Water also gives your skin more moisture which will prevent you from getting dry skin.

Now, one amazing thing water can do is help fight infections. There is nothing we hate more than feeling under the weather, but water can help prevent that. This is because it flushes all of the toxins out of your body. It has been proved to be specifically good at getting rid of and preventing urinary infections. Being hydrated is very important when you have a cold as it clears all the airways.

Water also helps you exercise better. When I'm  on my bike I always carry a bottle of water so I can replenish the fluids I lose when I'm sweating. It also helps me work harder and get more motivated throughout my rides and often cools me down on a hot day.

Now how much water you need to drink depends on your lifestyle, but my advice is to drink small amounts throughout the day to keep you hydrated. If you wait till you're thirsty you're already dehydrated.

If you're finding it hard to get more , do what I do and drink a glass first thing when you get up in the morning. This helps wake me up and replenishes my fluids lost during the night. I also carry a big bottle of water round with me which I sip throughout the day, this also helps give me an indication of what I have drunk throughout the day.

Now, if you hate the taste water then try adding a squeeze of lemon or lime juice, sugar free squash or a dash of any other juice.

And my final tip for today is to eat food rich in water. Cucumber contains 94% water, Tomatoes 93%, Broccoli 92% and Carrots 90%.

Well, thanks for reading my first article and I hope you'll look forward to the next one.

Dan