One of the most important elements to a healthy lifestyle is water, it is something that is so often left out of our day to day lives. We are learning to love our morning coffee kick but by mid-day we are shrivelling up like a raisin from dehydration.

It is suggested to drink 6 – 8 glasses of water a day to keep our bodies hydrated. Here are a few reasons how water could benefit you other than curing a hangover or being a main component to a cup of tea.

Improves mood! Maximise performance!

After an intense workout you can lose a lot of sweat which can cause your body to become dehydrated. This is an issue as our brain is strongly influenced. Studies have shown that even mild dehydration can impair many aspects of brain function, mood and concentration.

It can lead to an increase anxiety levels, fatigue and the frequency of headaches. This can make exercising feel much more difficult and lead to a reduce in motivation. This can easily occur through normal daily activities, let alone during exercise or high heat. Especially in Summer or warmer weather it is important to make sure your drinking enough water. If you are lacking it can also lead to your physical performance and overall energy to suffer, not just in class but your day to day life.

Alternatively, you can gain a large amount of water from your diet with certain foods which have a particularly high-water content for example, Watermelon (92%), Strawberries (91%), Cucumber (95%), Lettuce (96%) and Bell Peppers (92%). You can keep hydrate by using a lot of fruit and vegetables to make healthy meal.

We always recommend bringing a bottle of water to your lesson, though each dojo has a drinking fountain should you forget! We hope all our students remain hydrated and happy to have a great class and feel your best.