You might be surprised to learn that drinking water actually has its benefits – yes, even when managing incontinence. Encouraging the consumption of water does sound a little odd, so let’s spend a moment looking at how much water you should drink each day, and the benefits.
Benefits of drinking water
We’ve heard for years that we should be drinking around 2L of water each day, which works out to be around 8 glasses. First of all, we need to clarify this rule. Perhaps it should be:
“The average person should consume 2L of water each day.”
The reason is because when you have a balanced diet, you will consume a fair amount of water without trying. Fruit and vegetables contain a lot of water, so an additional 8 glasses is overkill. With that in mind, experts encourage people to drink when they feel thirsty – there’s no need to force 2 litres of water down. After all, excess water won’t help with incontinence.
If you need help to drink more water, leave a water bottle on your desk – you’ll find yourself drinking without realising. Many people also find that flavouring water with lemon juice, for example, makes regular water seem less boring and more enjoyable.
Water Replaces Lost Fluid
Every time you urinate or sweat, you lose precious water from your body – lose too much water and you will become dehydrated. You may notice that you are becoming dehydrated through a headache, the loss of energy and even darker, more concentrated urine. The more hydrated you are, the clearer your urine will be.
Dehydration can irritate your bladder, meaning that you will feel the need to use the bathroom more frequently. As mentioned just above, the more dehydrated you are, the more concentrated, and potent, your urine will be. Many sufferers of incontinence prefer to avoid stronger smelling urine to avoid attracting unwanted attention, so it’s beneficial to stay hydrated.
Water Cleanses Your Body
Another advantage of drinking a good amount of water is the fact that it helps to flush your body of toxins and bacteria. This will help your kidneys stay healthy and operate the way they should.
Replace Caffeine and Alcohol with Water
Caffeine and alcohol can irritate the bladder in a similar way to being dehydrated, so, similar to what you have just read, cutting out or cutting down on caffeine and alcohol, and switching to water will help reduce the amount of trips you make to the toilet.
Avoid Water Before Bed
While the production of urine slows down when you’re asleep, reducing water intake in the couple of hours before bed will limit the amount that you can lose during the night.
There are many benefits of drinking water, even when suffering from incontinence. You’ll be able to manage your condition and live a normal life with a number of items from the great Holistic Incontinence range. Take a look at what’s available in our online store.
To find the right product, speak with your GP or a member of the friendly Holistic Incontinence team.