- New research reveals that despite NHS recommendations, many still don’t know how many glasses of water they should drink per day
- In response, Highland Spring challenges the UK to join a new hydration challenge – with celebrities joining in to drink 10 glasses of water per day
- Challenge invites participants to track the colour of their pee – with less than a third look at the colour of their pee as an indicator of hydration levels
With new research showing that almost half of Brits have no idea how much water they should be drinking, Highland Spring today launches a hydration challenge – encouraging the nation to pick up healthy hydration habits, including checking the colour of their pee!
It’s widely known that staying hydrated can lead to naturally better sleep, higher energy levels and clearer skin, yet a new study* commissioned by Highland Spring has revealed that only one in five UK adults are drinking the recommended daily amount.
Despite NHS guidance** that a healthy adult should aim to drink between six to eight glasses of water a day, the study shows that, on average, Brits are only drinking three to four, and almost half (47%) have no idea what the daily recommendation is.
The research comes as Highland Spring partners with a host of wellbeing advocates, including Fearne Cotton, to challenge the nation to drink 10 glasses of water a day for 10 days and monitor how they feel**.
There are natural ways that the body reminds us to drink more, one of which is to look at the colour of your pee. Just three in 10 people are prompted to drink more by the colour of their urine, while others rely on other prompts such as warmer weather (45%) or having a water bottle on their desk (28%).
The challenge – which is being launched to celebrate Highland Spring’s new 5-litre fridge pack going on sale – encourages healthy hydration habits. It even calls on people to examine their pee colour using a handy ‘Pee Healthy’ guide, created based on guidance from nutritionist Lily Soutter and in partnership with Pantone Color Institute***, to check how hydrated you really are.
Highland Spring’s new 5-litre fridge pack makes accessing natural source water easier than ever, fitting perfectly in the fridge. It can be used on-the-go with a refillable bottle, staying fresh for up to four weeks.
When asked to select what shade best reflects the colour of their pee, it was revealed that 45- to 54-year-olds are the most hydrated with two thirds (66%) saying their urine resembles the two lightest shades in the hydration guide, on the other hand, 25- to 34-year-olds should be drinking more with almost 7 in 10 admitting their pee resembles the darker shades.
Mike Buckland, Marketing Controller at Highland Spring, said: “It’s surprising to see that people still don’t know how much to drink throughout the day – especially when our bodies are giving us the biggest signs.
“Our pee chart, which has been developed with Pantone Color Institute, can be a handy way to help monitor your hydration each day**. If your pee resembles the darker colours, it may be a prompt to drink more. It’s such a simple way to check, we all do it, but we just don’t always talk about it.
“That’s why we’re tasking the nation to drink 10 glasses of water for 10 days** to get into the habit of drinking more – you may feel more energetic, sleep better, have improved concentration and have an added spring in your step. Highland Spring’s new 5-litre fridge pack means it’s easier than ever to help people on their way to healthy hydration, with natural source water, straight from the fridge.
“We want to spread the word that healthy hydration can be the first step in self-care and we’re so excited to have Fearne Cotton supporting us by taking part in our hydration challenge and encouraging healthy conversation about normalising how we talk about the colour of our pee.”
Highland Spring’s 5-litre fridge pack follows the success of the 10-litre pack, which was launched last year and is available nationally. The 5-litre pack can be purchased from ASDA stores across the country, Amazon and Ocado, retailing at £3.00.
*Research conducted by OnePoll of 2,000 UK adults (19.05.2022-24.05.2022)
NHS guidance around hydration:
https://www.nhsinform.scot/campaigns/hydration
https://nhsforthvalley.com/health-services/health-promotion/nutrition/drink-more-water/
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-and-drinks-for-sport/
**The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommends an adequate daily intake of water (from food and drink consumption) of 2.5 litres of water for men and 2.0 litres of water for women, in conditions of moderate environmental temperature and moderate physical activity. Different levels apply to children, and pregnant/lactating women. To some a good starting place might look like 10 small glasses of around 200ml per day but volume required will vary from person to person – by checking the colour of your pee, you’ll see what you need. Water contributes to the maintenance of normal physical and cognitive functions, and normal regulation of the body’s temperature.
***Colours based on the NHS Nutrition and Dietetics Urine Colour chart. The urine colour guide and the Hydration Challenge are only an illustrative guide and are not intended as advice which should be relied upon. Various factors can change the colour of urine, such as diet, supplements etc. If an individual is concerned about the colour of their urine, they should consult a medical professional for advice. Highland Spring is not a medical expert, nor are they providing medical advice, if concerned seek advice from a medical expert.
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