Good Food Good Health - Water
Hello everyone
Recently I wrote an article on the danger of chemicals in carbonated drinks, and especially with children in mind. From this I had a great response, and questions arose to what else we should be drinking in what quantities to keep our health safe. I was surprised that many people were not even sure about the elixir of life – WATER.
I believe many people just do not know the importance of drinking enough water, whether it is tap or bottled, and are unable to tell the signs that are associated with just being slightly dehydrated, and this is especially true in children.
Younger children are often so involved with what ever they are doing, they can over look thirst yet know when they are hungry.
Did you know that a lack of water in your diet could lead to your child’s health suffering from illnesses such as headaches, infections and poor memory.
We all know a healthy diet is imperative to good health and thanks recently to the government and high profile people like chef Jamie Oliver, children’s diets and needs have been highlighted, with healthier school meals generally more available, and parents and children now far more aware of the need for nutritious food for healthy growing bodies.
However, nutritionists say that another equally vital healthy need appears to be missing – Water. For the proper functioning of our bodies water is essential, and yet children at school are by no means getting enough.
In the UK there are presently no official recommendations for daily water intake, but according to guidelines provided by the U.S. the rate of water drank daily should be 0.9 Litres for 1-3 year olds, 1.2 litres for 4 – 8 year olds, 1.6 litres for 9 – 13 year old girls, 9- 13 year old boys 1.8 litres and 14 - 18 year old girls 1.8 litres and boys of the same age 2.6 litres.
A survey carried out by the Expert Group on Hydration, (a think tank on health experts) suggests that at least 40 % of British children aged between 11 – 18 drink less than 1.2 litres a day!
Children have a higher percentage of body water and also lose water at a faster rate than adults, and so dehydrate quickly which means they need to drink substantially more to replace the loss. Water in a child is 15 percent of their total body weight and an adult has 5 – 10 percent.
Dehydration can have a vast effect on health and on a child’s learning ability. Schools only have one legal requirement on water provision and that is ‘ a school shall have a wholesome supply of water for domestic purposes including a supply of drinking water.
Parents and schools need to stress the need and value of children drinking water regularly, keeping their bodies hydrated at all times and making it common practice. Generally, the only time school children are allowed to regularly drink water is during exams.
It is widely known that poor hydration adversely affects a child’s mental performance and learning ability. Through mild dehydration children can suffer symptoms of light-headedness, dizziness, tiredness and headaches as well as the reduced ability to concentrate. So if your child is irritable, lack of water could be the problem.
Tests have been carried out on classes of students only being able to drink during break times and classes having bottled water at hand all through school hours. The results were quite dramatic, with the classes having all day water intake remarkably improving, being better behaved, calmer and had greater concentration levels. These pupils also suffered fewer headaches and ‘sore tummies’ with a reduction in lethargy. This gave to an improved quality of work.
Many experts are now arguing that there should be a blanket rule for school children to be able to have access to water at all times throughout the school day. It is known that during exams that concentration is better when fluid levels are maintained, so why not throughout the whole school practice.
So keeping an eye on your child’s water intake level is very important, whether it is summer or winter, and there are plenty of brands of flavoured still water sold in most shops if the reply is ‘ I don’t like water’!
Water is good food for good health.
Sandra & Ted
This article was composed by Sandra & Ted Wosko. We have always been interested in health issues especially having children, and as with most people, we all suffer with some type of ailment. We are always researching on more and more topics in the endless task of gaining more knowledge to increase our expertise, benefiting ourselves and other people alike.
http://www.goodfoodgoodhealth.com
http://www.thetalkingbooksite.com
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