The mistake most of us make when trying to increase our water intake

Most Australians aren’t drinking enough water each day, despite knowing they should be, according to new research by Liquid I.V.

And the reason for this is pretty simple, according to nutritionist and wellbeing expert Jacqueline Alwill: We’re simply too busy to remember to keep our intake up.

“It comes to the bottom of the priority list,” Alwill said on Today.

“Hydration is actually something we need to schedule into our lives in order to optimise our health.”

She warned that the “eight glasses a day” recommendation isn’t a magic number.

“Hydration is very individual,” she said, adding that the amount of water an individual should be drinking depends on factors including height, weight, and physical activity.

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Alwill said the goal is “affective hydration”, warning it is possible to drink too much water in a single day.

“A lot of people, especially if they’re of a smaller frame and they’re drinking three to four litres a day – it’s putting too much pressure on the kidneys,” she said.

Alwill said the feeling of thirst is the most obvious sign of dehydration, but there are other more subtle symptoms to watch out for.

“Fatigue, feeling tired, poor energy, and that is when a lot of people reach for more caffeine, when they really should be reaching for a glass of water,” she said.

A dry mouth and lips, lightheadedness, hunger and changes in breath quality are also telltale signs.

Longer-term dehydration can also result in digestion problems and constipation, Alwill explained.

“Finding ways for your rehydration to be convenient is also critical too,” she added.

To ensure adequate water intake, Alwill recommends “habit stacking”.

“So a workday, for instance, you’re up, you brush your teeth, then two glasses of water before you reach for your tea or coffee,” she said.

“Similarly, if you sit down for emails, have a glass of water or your ‘emotional support bottle’ right next to you so that you’re not forgetting to drink water throughout the day.

“That’s the easiest way to make this a convenient system for people.”

Allwill advised individuals to “identify the blind spot” when it comes to their daily water intake.

“A lot of women for instance, mums, will get to the end of the day and think, ‘I haven’t drunk a thing’,” she said.

“Have a little target so that by midday or mid-afternoon, you’ve hit a certain amount of water or electrolytes in your water.”