Water is one of the most critical components of the body.
No question about that.
Water composes about 75 percent of muscle tissue and about 10 percent of fatty tissue. But more importantly, lack of proper hydration can cause these things:
-inability to regulate body temperature
-poor digestion (constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, etc)
-chronic infections or inflammation of vital organs
-painful joints
-breakdown of cellular communication (your cells, not your iPhone)
-inability of the body to transport and process nutrients to the cells
-toxic waste buildup
-excessive lactic acid (the primary cause of exercise-related muscle soreness)
-headaches and even migraines
-back and neck pain
So water is important to pretty much everything.
Dehydration can manifest itself in all sorts of aches and pains.
Many times we feel hungry, tired, sick, even depressed because we don’t get enough water. I find that my back aches sometimes merely because I am dehydrated.
If you have a headache, try drinking a big glass of water before reaching for the aspirin bottle.
So how much water should we drink?
You may remember the old adage of 8 glasses of water per day. One size does not fit all when it comes to water.
Drink Half Your Body Weight in Ounces of Water Daily.
In other words, if you weigh 180 lbs., you would want to drink about 90 ounces of water (roughly 3 quarts or 3 liters) to start to re-hydrate your body. I know that sounds like a lot of water.
In fact, it took me several months to get to where I could comfortably drink half my body weight in ounces of water daily.
But the results are worth it.
Proper hydration will significantly improve every function in your body.
People tell me all the time that they drink “lots of water.” However, when they actually measure it, they are surprised to find how little water they are actually drinking. I discovered that for myself in my food log assessment.
Water is Water, isn’t it?
Drinking other fluids does not take the place of water. Don’t trick yourself into counting Coffee or Tea as part of your daily water intake just because it is made of water.
Water is water and it is irreplaceable in the body for many reasons. We do get some fluid intake from food, primarily fresh fruits and vegetables. But even with a diet abundant in fruits and vegetables, food will only count for about 20 percent of your total fluid intake.
When You Need More Water
If you undertake an intensive exercise program, live in a hot or humid climate, are pregnant or breast-feeding, have an illness with diarrhea or vomiting, you will want to drink more than half your body weight in ounces of water.
If you are doing a detox or cleanse program, increase your water consumption to 80% in ounces of your body weight.
Ask your doctor for specific concerns.
BYOB
I use a stainless steel bottle that holds 22 oz that I fill several times a day with water. That way I can keep track of how much water I am drinking.
Tip: Use stainless steel or glass bottles. Avoid plastic.
I prefer water at room temperature because I can drink it easier without getting brain freeze. But on a really hot day, I may fill it with cold water or even add ice cubes.
What ideas do you have to drink more water?
Keep Track of your Water Consumption
It’s important to keep tabs on how much water you consume each day to make sure you are getting enough to support your body’s functions.
You will be absolutely amazed at the minor and even major ailments that will disappear once you provide your body with enough water.
Start your day with a 12 oz or more glass of water before you eat breakfast or even drink coffee.
Hint: Add a few drops of lemon, grapefruit or other citrus essential oils for better taste and a whole lot of health benefits including increased energy and better digestion.
How much water do you drink daily?