This might seem like an obvious product, and actually it is not really a product at all. It is a naturally formed substance found on our great planet we call earth!
It seems as though our culture has forgotten about water-- or at least that we can drink it. When you think about all the hype on how the earth is running out of water, we don't actually drink it that often. And when we do it is juice, soda or some other beverage such as coffee ( which has the opposite effect of water ). Not too mention the over consumption of dairy in waters place.
What is the big deal with water anyways? Well for starters our body is made up of about 70% water. Our blood is mostly water and the rest of us ( muscles, brain and lungs!) are comprised of water as well. It would only seem logical that we need to keep hydrated. What is dehydration you ask? To put it simply : when you lose more water than you take in. This can happen a couple ways. One is exercising, when you are exerting your body it naturally perspires. This is a way the body relieves itself of toxins. If you exercise and do not replace fluids lost, you get .... you guessed it! dehydrated.
Another way and this is the most common today, is to not drink enough fluids. This is the one I will focus on here.
- in a day, your lungs expel about two to four cups of water just through normal breathing (even more on a cold day).
- You can lose up to a cup of water if your feet sweat.
- In just six trips to the bathroom a day, you can lose about six cups of water.
- Your body can expel about two cups of water a day if you perspire (and that doesn’t include exercise-induced sweat).
Signs of dehydration.
Dizziness, light headed, dry mouth, and a sticky mouth.
How much do we need?
We have all heard that you need 8 glasses a day, which isn't bad advice. But I wouldn't say this is concrete science by any means. 8 glasses is probably a safe bet. But the problem is everyone is different.
Dietary intake depends on so much more than just a simple number that is prescribed to everybody.
If you are sick with a gastrointestinal illness than you are going to need a lot of water to replenish all the fluids you have lost in the familiar bathroom. If it is hot out and you are spending a lot of time outside in the sun, you are going to need lots of water as well. Not everybody has the same weight or height which plays into affect how much you need.
I have seen this formula for everyday water consumption-- Take your weight and divide it in half. Lets say you weigh 160-- you will need 80 ounces of water a day. If you exercise it recommends another eight ounces for every 20 minutes of activity you do.
It can be hard to bring water into your routine. Especially today when there are SO many other tasty beverages you can get. But this is one of those easier health choices. Adding water to your day is a very smart choice. I will be the first to admit that it was easy to forget about drinking a glass of water. One easy way that I have learned to drink water is to have a glass the first thing in the morning. This helps you wake up and start the day off well. Bring a water bottle with you.
It might be advised to remove or drink very sparingly during meals. Drinking during meals can dilute the necessary digestive juices in your tummy that you need to break down the foods for nutrients. So drink ore in between meals.
I think drinking water is one if the best habits to form if you are trying to live a healthier lifestyle. One easy way to cut unwanted sugar from your diet is to drink water instead of other options such as soda, milk or caffein drinks. I noticed a huge difference in my eating and my body when I cut soda from my eating. Don't like the taste? Thats not a good enough reason to not drink the important fluid. Our taste buds have been over stimulated. Try kicking the sugary liquid habit and you might start to change your mind!
Try drinking water for a good transition into a healthier lifestyle. Please read more on this subject. I am sure you will learn something new and have a new appreciation for water. For more in depth articles check these out.
