IELTS Speaking Part 1: Drinking Water

Why is it important to stay hydrated by drinking enough water? 

It is very important to stay hydrated by drinking enough water because the human body is composed of water, and the water composition is about 75 to 80 per cent. So, if there is less water, there is a chance that the person might get confused, which can lead to hypovolemic shock. So, that is a medical aspect of not drinking enough water. Also, if there are mild cases of dehydration, the person can feel fatigued, and the headache might get triggered. The person will be unable to do the daily activities with the utmost concentration and energy. So, ultimately, it will lead to discomfort. 

 How do you ensure you meet your hydration goals? 

Typically, I consume about two litres of water. I have a water bottle with markings, calibrated, and one-liter capacity. So, throughout my day, I sip from that water bottle, and for every family member, there is a different bottle for everyone. So, that is how we keep a check on our water intake. I refill that one-litre bottle twice, and by the end of the day, I know I have consumed two litres of water.

What are the benefits of drinking water for overall health and well-being?

There are many benefits of drinking water. Firstly, it is very important to stay hydrated. If the person is hydrated and there is no sign or symptom of dehydration, they will be able to focus better if they have to study or if they are into practice playing sports. So they will be able to do their daily activities properly. 

Water is essential for completing daily tasks and ensuring that the person is hydrated well and has maintained skin turgor. There is a certain glow on the skin, and the skin feels hydrated. These days, various people, especially actors or influencers, also focus very much on water intake. That is because it gives everybody rejuvenated skin. So, these are the two most important things one should remember: water plays a vital role in one’s body. 

Can you share any personal experiences where staying hydrated affected your performance? 

Yes, so, like I said, I am very active in sports. So, there was this annual inter-batch sports competition at my college, and every year, I was on the basketball team. So, this Navratri season was going on, and during the Navratri season, I fasted for nine days, and the competition was supposed to be on the 10th day after Navratri. I could play, but throughout those nine days, I had to fast. So, on the 10th day, I was dehydrated, which affected my performance, and I could not play for the entire set. 

My endurance level went to zero, and I was fatigued by the end of the set. But I managed to play because I have always been playing, which was a habit. But if somebody is new to sports or wants to perform well in the game, one should be hydrated. So, that was one time when I was not hydrated, and I learned that hydration is very important.

What are some creative ways to increase your water intake if you find it challenging to drink enough? 

These days, many flavours are available on the market. People buy those flavours to make their water taste better, and certain health apps are available at the store. Only they can download the application from the store, and the app helps track their water intake at the end of the day; it gives them a virtual reward or coins, giving them a sense of satisfaction. So, these things are helpful.

Apart from that, if the person is motivated and wants to improve their water intake, they can always buy a calibrated bottle. They can set targets for themself so that at the end of the day, when they achieve that target, that will lead to satisfaction, and further, they will be motivated for the next day.

How does your environment or climate impact your water consumption habits? 

I live in the northern part of India. Here in the northern part, we experience all four seasons, but in winter, it is difficult to consume two litres of water because everything gets very cold. Still, we can improve it by using thermos-teel water bottles to carry warm water for the intake. 

Also, drinking the target anybody sets in these summers and other seasons is easier. It is a little difficult in winter, but it can be overcome. 

Aren’t there any myths or misconceptions about drinking water you would like to debunk? 

There is a misconception that if people will stand and drink water, that will go into their knees, but this is not true because the GI tract, the gastrointestinal tract, starts from the buccal cavity and ends at the anus. So, the water goes nowhere, but there has been some research, and some articles believe that when we drink water, the intestines show this peristaltic moment. 

When we stand and drink, the peristalsis decreases. The water goes down by the force of gravity. It is not true because the force of gravity is still the same when the person is sitting or standing. So, it is a myth that water doesn’t go to your knees when you stand and drink water. 

How does hydration affect physical performance during exercise or sports activities?

 Hydration is crucial in physical performance or sports because it increases concentration, focus, and endurance. You can play more in one stretch. So, for example, if there is one set for 20 minutes or 24 minutes if the person is well hydrated and has played before and is a moderate-level or beginner-level player, they can stretch until 24 minutes if the person is hydrated.

If the person is not hydrated, the mouth will start to feel dry, and breathing and coughing will be difficult because the whole passage is very dry. So, hydration plays a very vital role. Also, when players are playing, they tend to perspire a lot, and sweat may lead to dehydration if they don’t hydrate well. 

What are some signs of dehydration, and how can you prevent it by maintaining adequate water intake? 

So, there are many signs of dehydration. In adults, the most common signs are dry mouth, chapped lips, dry skin, decreased skin tugger, and wrinkles on the face; in neonates, the signs of dehydration are found. In neonates, the fontanel is a space between the skull bones that can be depressed. There will be a concave meniscus, which is very prominent when the neonate is dehydrated. So, these are certain signs according to the degree of dehydration. In severe cases, the person can also have sunken eyes, which is alarming. 

People should try to prevent dehydration at mild levels. If the person is tired or has a dry mouth, the person should automatically drink water. If, for some reason, the person cannot drink water, there are other sources of hydration. One can hydrate by drinking juices or liquids like coconut water or lemonade. Any source can benefit, but it’s high time people identified the mild signs of dehydration and worked to remedy them.