The ubiquitous nature of water! That really is quite a mouthful; but did you realize about 71% of our planet's surface is covered by water and about 70% of our body is comprised of water? An interesting thought I heard from someone recently was, "Perhaps that is the reason why drinking enough water is not at the top of many people's list of health priorities." Hmm......I wonder?
Why Drink Water?
You need to drink enough water so your body can properly digest your food and deliver nutrients to your cells, plus get rid of waste products. Without enough water, controlling body temperature would be a
challenge, your joints would lack lubrication and your muscles would tire more quickly. Bottom line - every cell, tissue and organ needs water to function properly.
How Much Is Enough?
According to the Institute of Medicine,most people need between 8 and 12 cups (2-3 liters) of fluid daily. Needs vary depending on one's age, gender and activity level. In general, for every 50 pounds of body weight you need about a quart of water every day.(1 liter for every 25 kg of body weight.) For most people, that amounts to drinking at least 8 glasses a day.
Some Signs of Dehydration
Your mouth is dry - seems obvious if you are thirsty you need water, but remember, sometimes your thirst mechanism doesn't kick in until you're already running dry.
Your urine is dark - when you are well hydrated, your urine is relatively clear, enough that you could read the newspaper through it!
You're constipated - Proper bowel function relies on adequate fluids. We think of fiber as the most important factor in a well-functioning digestive tract but for certain fibers (water-soluble ones), they need to soak up water to be effective.
Your breath isn't as sweet as it should be - When your mouth is dry there is less saliva to wash away the naturally occurring bacteria that live there. These bacteria feed on little bits of food and skin cells in your mouth, multiply, and leave your breath a little stale!
Your workouts aren't as good as they could be - Water is critical in helping your body produce the energy your muscles need to fuel your workouts. When you are not well hydrated, you begin to feel your energy flagging.
The Original Beverage
Water is the 'original beverage'. It was the only option up until the time that tea was first consumed as a beverage some 3,000 years ago. Water's natural, it's readily available and yippee - it is calorie-free!
You Can Lead A Horse To Water
What do you do if you absolutely don't like water? Cold water often seems more refreshing than room-temperature water, so drop in a few ice cubes. Try sipping through a straw to make it fun, or squeeze in a little lemon, lime, cucumber, fresh mint, ginger or even add a few berries. Treat water like an appetizer and start every meal with a glass of water.
My favorite way to ensure I'm drinking my water is to fill up my 60 oz. water bottle, add some Aloe or H3O from Herbalife Nutrition, and keep it with me all day. Between that and the glass of water I always have first thing in the morning and the last thing I have in the evening - I am set!
Comentarios