Have you ever heard the saying “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink”? Don’t be like that horse. In order to perform physical work to full capacity we need to be hydrated. Poor hydration can lead to heat intolerance and poor performance, when exercising or doing physically demanding work. Hydration is critical to keeping first responders safe and enabling them to perform well. Being hydrated is also key to weight loss. Thirst is often mistaken for hunger, so adequate hydration actually helps control appetite to some degree. Studies have shown that drinking water prior to a meal can reduce overall food intake and prevent overeating. And the better hydrated we are, the better we generally feel, which can mean higher likelihood we will make the effort to exercise, be active, and cook or eat healthy foods. There is a reason hydration gets all the hype: water is important!
