Sip smart: Decoding the water bottle cap

In hot and humid Singapore, it’s no surprise that Singaporeans are the top consumers of bottled water in the world! Research has found that we spend the most on it per capita – but how much do we know of the copious amounts of bottled water we buy and consume every day?

Not all water is equal
With the vast number of bottled water options, navigating the supermarket aisles can be overwhelming, and even seem unnecessary. After all, they’re all just water… or are they? Bottled water hydrates us all the same, but they come with some differences – and they’re indicated by none other than bottle cap colours! Here are just a few:

Bottoms up!
We must add a disclaimer here: the interpretation of water bottle cap colours may not be standardised across all brands or regions!

We should always read the labels on the bottle when buying a bottle!

What matters is that we’re drinking enough water, whatever the type.
Water leaves our bodies all the time – when we go to the washroom, cry, or perspire – which is often in our tropical climate. It's essential to replenish the water in our bodies, and it's as easy as sipping water throughout the day.

Now, what happens if we don’t drink enough? Some signs that you should start gulping down that water include:

• Feeling easily tired or fatigued
• Feeling cranky or grumpy
• Constipation and other digestive problems
• Headaches
• Poor skin

With dehydration, prevention is the best remedy. All we need to do is make more informed decisions! Instead of relying on thirst, an easy way to monitor your hydration is to observe your urine. If your urine is pale and odour-free, you’re on the right track! On the other hand, if it is dark-coloured and has a strong smell, you might want to start reaching for that water bottle.

Keep hydrated, stay cool
Learning how to stay hydrated isn’t rocket science. Small changes like eating foods with higher water content, keeping a water bottle on hand, and drinking fewer carbonated drinks can go a long way.

Hydration is not a one-off choice but rather a proactive investment in our health. To live our best lives, ensuring we are well protected with health insurance is important too, when the magic of water is insufficient.