The Miracle of Water… Something which we discover on our special interest ‘Well Walks’ as we explore the village wells and ponds of the Chilterns.

We take water for granted. Yet water - good hydration - is key to enjoying good health and to our enjoyment of a good walk!

Here are a few facts:

Our body is made up of about 60% water - it plays an essential role in every bodily function, but its role in temperature regulation during exercise is vital
We can lose a lot of fluid when exercising – that includes walking – mainly through sweating and breathing
We need to replace this lost fluid to avoid getting dehydrated
You should drink enough during the day so that your pee is a pale clear colour

Dehydration can affect both our general health and our enjoyment of a good walk.

By simply not drinking enough you may –

feel tired more quickly
lose concentration and become grumpy
be unable to control your body temperature as well as usual which can lead to heat exhaustion
feel stiff joints or suffer from side aches or painful muscle cramps
develop a headache, stomach cramps, digestive problems, or diarrhoea and nausea

To keep your body hydrated, it is important that you drink sufficient fluids not only during your walk but also before and after, even on a short walk and especially during periods of hot weather.