How many university students can honestly say they drink enough water every day? Further, how many university students can say that they know what “enough water” really is?

It can be difficult to be committed to drinking water throughout the day as a busy university student, but here are some tips to clear up some confusion and make water consumption easy.

Why drink water?

Water plays a significant role in cognitive functions, and by not hydrating during the day you can significantly reduce the efficiency of your studying. When you are hydrated, you’re in a better mood, you can think much clearer, you are more attentive, and your memory is better.

How much should you drink in a day?

There is no magic number of cups or glasses of water that a person should drink in a day. According to the Dietary Reference Intakes from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s Health and Medicine Division, on average, males ages 19-30 require 3.7 L (13 -15 cups) of water per day and females ages 19-30 need 2.7 L (9-11 cups) of water per day in total, but these numbers include water intake from food, which should cover about 20% of your fluid intake. Keep in mind that how much water you need is different for everybody and will vary with individual activity levels. Thirst will always be the best guide!

Does coffee, tea, or juice count?

Yes! Recent studies show that coffee and tea do contribute to hydration despite their caffeine content. Juice also counts but keep in mind that juice contains a lot of sugar. However, whole fruits, such as melon and oranges, are a good source of water.

Tricks to Increase Water Consumption:

  1. Always have a water bottle with you. You can’t drink water if you don’t have water. Invest in a cool reusable water bottle and bring it everywhere you go.
  2. Set consumption goals. Mark times of day on your water bottle (at every 100 ml for example) and make sure you drink your water for that hour.
  3. Add flavour to your water. If plain water is too boring, add lemon or lime slices for flavour.

Where to hydrate on campus?

The University is full of water fountains where you can fill up your reusable bottles, and these fountains are present in all the buildings on campus. If you don’t have your bottle with you, the many vending machines on campus sell plastic bottles.

By Liv Helland

Liv is a first-year student in the Bachelor of Physical Education program at MacEwan who competes at the AA level in ringette and instructs power skating to young ringette and hockey players in Edmonton.

References:

Brody, Jane E.. “Drink Up! Most of Us Could Benefit From More Water.” The New York Times, 9 Jul. 2018,

Krieger, Ellie. “Is Coffee Hydrating? (and the truth behind other hydration myths).” The Denver Post, 29 Aug. 2016.