BITS ‘N’ PIECES

The Palace of Versailles or Château de Versailles is a former royal residence built by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, about 19 km west of Paris, France.

Louis XIII built a simple hunting lodge on the site of the Palace of Versailles in 1623. Louis XIV expanded the château into the beginnings of a palace. In 1682, Louis XIV moved the seat of his court and government to Versailles, making the palace the de facto capital of France. Louis XV and Louis XVI primarily made interior alterations to the palace, but in 1789 the royal family and capital of France returned to Paris. For the rest of the French Revolution, the Palace of Versailles was largely abandoned.

The most famous room in the palace is the Hall of Mirrors, renowned for its stunning, sparkling design. It was the site where the Treaty of Versailles that brought an end to the First World War was signed. When fully lit, it’s illuminated with 3000 candles and is covered in a total of 357 Venetian mirrors.

King Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, particularly loved the place and in the 17th century commissioned more than 3000 workers to transform a pre-existing hunting lodge into the iconic landmark it is today. There are over 700 rooms, 60 staircases and 1200 fireplaces in the palace. In the gardens alone, there are 400 sculptures and 1400 fountains while over 5000 separate pieces of furniture are arranged within the palace. Everything in the palace and all its materials are French.

The palace and park were designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979 for its importance as the center of power, art, and science in France during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Stay hydrated

We lose water constantly through our skin, waste and sweat. If you don’t drink enough water, you can become dehydrated, which can lead to impaired kidney function, unbalanced electrolytes and other complications. About 20 percent of our daily fluid intake comes from the food we eat and the rest from the liquids we drink.

According to the U.S. National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, men should drink about 16 cups and women about 11 cups of fluid per day. You need to drink even more water if you exercise, sweat or have an illness (diarrhea, vomiting and fever).

Tips for staying hydrated

Drink a glass of water first thing in the morning. This gets your metabolism running and gives you an energy boost.

Use alarms or notifications to your advantage. Set alarms or notifications on your smart devices as reminders throughout the day.

Focus on your body’s signals. Be mindful of whether your body is thirsty or hungry. Sometimes we overeat because we mistake thirst for hunger.

Drink a glass of water before each meal. It will help you stay hydrated, help your body digest food better and help you feel full faster.

Swap high sugar drinks for sparkling water or seltzer. Not only will you cut back on unnecessary sugar, but you’ll be adding to your water intake.

Set a daily goal. A simple daily goal can help you stay motivated and work towards maintaining a healthy habit.