How much water should I drink? The general rule of thumb is to drink 8, 8oz glasses of water each day. However, if you are active and workout frequently you should drink half your weight in ounces because you will lose a lot of water when you sweat.
Water can help you lose weight! Water helps speed up your metabolism and can make you feel full. Try drinking a glass of water before meals to curb your hunger and allow you to eat less. Try adding lemon to your water as it helps to speed up weight loss, flush out toxins, and gives you a jolt of healthy energy. Substituting water for high calorie beverages such as sodas, juices, and alcoholic beverages can have a big impact on your waistline.
Two-thirds of the human body is made up of water. About 70% of this water is inside the body’s cells, 20% is in the space surrounding the cells, and 10% is in the blood stream. Water assists the body with the following functions: digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, transportation of nutrients, and maintenance of body temperature.
Dehydration begins when you first start to get thirsty. Be proactive and drink before you feel thirsty. One of the best ways to monitor your hydration levels is to pay close attention to the color of your urine. Light to clear urine indicates proper hydration levels.
One study conducted by Loughborough University found that a mere 5% drop in water levels in the body can cause a 25-30% loss in energy. Even a 3% drop can cause fuzzy thinking, “brain fog” and a slower metabolism. Another study conducted by University of Connecticut’s Human Performance Laboratory found that even a 1.5% water loss led to reduced cognitive function, headaches and fatigue in 25 women and 26 men.
Bottled Water vs. Filtered Water vs. Tap water: Calcium and Magnesium are important minerals that we want in our water. Studies have shown that death rates are lower when tap water contains higher percentages of Calcium and Magnesium. Deficiencies in Magnesium are tied to heart-related problems As far as % of Calcium and Magnesium. When compared to bottle water, on average, tap water contains similar levels of Calcium and Magnesium. To save $$ purchase a water filter to remove chlorine and bacterial contaminants that could be present in tap water.There is much more information about this topic—I may write a blog on this subject on its own in the future!
Water assists your kidneys to flush out toxins and waste products from your body. By staying properly hydrated, you can prevent kidney stones from occurring which can be quite painful:
Water helps to maintain normal bowel function: When you don’t drink enough water, your colon pulls water from stool to maintain a proper hydration level. As a result, you get constipated. Bottom line: drink water to prevent constipation!
Water helps to boost the immune system. Maintaining healthy levels of water in your body’s cells helps to keep your body functions performing at their optimal level which is integral in defending against flu, cancer, and other ailments.
Tips to drink your daily recommended amount of water
Purchase a water bottle and carry it with you in your car, at your desk at work, at the gym, etc. This will allow you to easily drink water throughout the day.
Divide your total recommended water intake by the number of hours you work in a given day. Each hour try to consume this fractional amount of water. For example if you had to drink 64 ounces of water in a given day, try to drink an 8 oz glass every hour throughout the 8-hour work day.
Create a habit of drinking a glass of water as the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning. This will boost your metabolism and get you on the right track for the day!
Have water with every snack or meal.
Eat more fruits and veggies- they have high water content. About 20% of our water consumption comes from the foods that we eat
