You know how hot the weather can get in Hartford, CT, and probably understand that it’s important to hydrate. Summer isn’t the only time you need to focus on hydration. You need it all year around to be your healthiest. The question I get most frequently is how much water a day is enough? Think of this, water is far more important than food. You can survive about three weeks without food, but only three to four days without water.
How much water should you drink?
There’s no easy way of identifying the amount of water to drink, so most people identify 8-eight ounce cups a day. That’s really not enough, according to Mayo Clinic. According to the site, for men about 15.5 cups of fluids a day is about right and for women approximately 11.5 cups of fluid. You’ll notice the word fluid is used and not water. That’s because it includes fluid from the food you eat and other beverages. Normally, about 20% of your liquid intake comes from food. The rest comes from what you drink.
Some things can affect the amount of fluid you need.
If you exercise, you need to drink more water, since you lose it through perspiration. The weather can affect your need to drink more. Hot, humid weather also makes you lose more fluid through perspiration. Even the altitude affects the amount of water you need to drink. The higher the elevation, the more water you need to drink. Health issues, which include diarrhea, vomiting and fever, can cause you to become dehydrated. If you’re pregnant or breast-feeding, you’ll also need more fluid.
You can increase the amount of fluids you drink, but the easiest way is to schedule water.
Just make it a habit to drink a glass of water throughout the day. Start your day with a glass of water. Have a glass of water.before a meal, studies show it can help you lose weight. Drink a glass of water about an hour before you exercise, sip on it during your workout and follow up your exercise with water. Carry a bottle of water with you and if you feel thirsty, drink it. You can tell if you’re getting adequate fluids by the color of your urine, if it’s a light yellow or colorless, you’re getting the right amount of hydration.
- Water is important for all your major organs. Your lungs are 83% water and your heart and brain are 73%. Lack of fluid can cause you to be tired, cause heart rhythm irregularity and increase breathing problems.
- Achy joints can be helped by increasing the amount of fluid in your body. Water lubricates the joints. Seniors dehydrate faster than younger people and even slight dehydration can cause symptoms similar to dementia.
- You’ll help prevent kidney stones when you drink more water and limit UTIs. Drinking more fluid can actually help reduce bloating, while filling you up so you eat less, so it helps you lose water.
- Drinking more water can help improve the appearance of your skin. Staying hydrated helps plump your skin, preventing some wrinkling and making your eyes appear more youthful.
For more information, contact us today at A Strong Life