I want to chat about hydration today. Seems simple, drink more
water and feel better. Right? Surprisingly, it gets more complicated than that
(as if we didn’t have enough to worry about already!). Did you know that by the
time you feel thirsty you are most likely already dehydrated? I get a lot of
questions about how much water is enough, and what types of drinks are best to
drink throughout the day to stay hydrated.
So lets start with how much you should be drinking daily. Divide your body weight
(in pounds) by 2 and that is how many ounces you should be drinking daily. For
example, I weigh 130lb/2 = 65oz of water daily. I find the best way to actually
keep tabs on this amount is to pick out a water bottle, and know exactly how
many ounces it holds. Do the math
to find out how many refills you should have each day.
Why
is this so important you ask? First, your body is composed of 75% water. All of
your organs depend on water to function in one way or another. Water disposes
all of the junk out of your body, such as toxins, dead cells, and pollution
particles. Also, water allows the
flow of your lymphatic system, improving immunity against illness. It does this
by moving white blood cells, electrolytes, and proteins throughout the entire
body. In addition, staying hydrated prevents deterioration of your kidneys
(people in constant dehydration can be causing kidney disease later in life).
Water helps your body circulate blood easier too, dehydration has been linked
to poor heart health, because your heart has to pump harder to circulate when
dehydrated. Dehydration has also been directly connected to decreased mental
concentration and energy level.
Are you thirsty yet? Go grab a glass of water! Notice I said
WATER, not Gatorade or juice. Nothing compares to water. If you drink juice or soda all day,
you are not hydrating yourself properly. They have added sugars and coloring, which
are things your body will need to remove later on. Go easy on yourself and
stick with water. If you aren’t a fan of the taste, add some sliced fruits into
your water bottle. I love adding strawberries to mine! Don’t include anything but water into
your daily needs discussed earlier.
