Surely you’re all familiar with the sayings ‘Listen to your gut’, ‘follow your gut instinct ‘and ‘I’ve got a gut wrenching feeling about this’ but have you ever questioned their significance? You may be surprised to know that these mind – gut connected phrases have not simply been strung together for metaphorical effect but are actually rather meaningful.  Interestingly, the state of our gut does not only affect our physical health but can also impact our mental health too. Let’s explore these factors a little further before looking into some simple steps we can take to keep our gut healthy.

Up to two thirds of the human body is comprised of water – it’s in our cells, the spaces in between and in our blood. Each and every single part of our anatomy is dependent on water in order to function.

Surely you’ve all been advised at some point in time to drink at least 2 litres of water per day – an amount even the most dedicated of water – drinkers may sometimes view as a bit of a challenge. Despite there being very little scientific evidence to back this claim we all know that water consumption is extremely important and vital for our bodies to operate.  However, when it comes down to how much we should drink keep in mind that water requirements can vary from person to person depending on lifestyle, health factors, diet and climate. For example, someone who exercises often is going to need a higher quantity to help rehydrate their system after heavy perspiration. Additionally a person who has a diet high in salt will need more water to maintain a normal salt concentration in the blood.

Whilst it’s crucial we get enough liquids in our body we must be careful not to overdo it or drink large volumes too quickly.