Healthy Goals to Live By- Drink Plenty of Water For Health and Wellness
Posted: Sunday, January 04, 2009
by Val Silver
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Why do we need to drink "so much" water?
The average 150 pound adult is made up of approximately 2/3rds water. That's 40-50 quarts of water or 80-100 pounds of water per person! Your body uses about three quarts of water a day to carry out its basic functions. That water needs to be replaced through the beverages we drink and the food we eat.
Caffeinated beverages do provide water but the caffeine causes the body to release water so these drinks are poor choices for hydration. If you don't like the taste of plain water, squeeze in some fresh lemon or lime juice. An easy way to determine if you are drinking enough water is that you do not feel thirsty and your urine is light yellow to clear in color.
Water is necessary for the proper functioning of all organs and systems in the body. All parts of your body are made up of varying amounts of water. You need it to properly digest your food, absorb nutrients, remove toxins and eliminate waste from the body. It improves mental and physical performance. Even mild dehydration can increase your chances of developing a headache, viral infection, heart attack or kidney stones. Blood becomes thicker and harder to circulate, creating a feeling of brain fog and tiredness.
Tips for Drinking Water:
- Have a glass or two of water as soon as you get up in the morning and before bed. Keep a glass of water by your bed if you get thirsty during the night. Don't worry, your bladder will adjust.
- Cold water will help you cool off and temporarily speed up your metabolism. This can help you burn calories.
- If you feel cold, drink warm water with lemon or have a dilute non-caffeinated drink.
- Keep a source of water with you at all times. Refillable water bottles with a built in filter can be filled at any faucet and have the added benefit of reducing the expense and waste generated by pre-filled water bottles.
- Have a glass of water a few minutes before your meal to reduce feelings of hunger and provide water to aid the digestion process. If you are in the habit of drinking at mealtime, take small sips. Too much water while eating can interfere with digestion.
- If you feel hungry between meals, take a moment and ask yourself, "Am I really hungry or am I thirsty?" Often you will find that you are really thirsty. This can help you cut back on excessive calories.
- Increase your water consumption when you are very active, if you are taking diuretics, or drinking alcohol and caffeinated drinks.
Note: Some health conditions may require you to monitor water consumption. Please consult your physician before making changes to your health regimen
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Top-level comments on this article: (7 total)Great article Val. Few people realize the difference more water makes as far as your health and well being is concerned. I have been a Coffee addict since my army days and for years I hardly drank any pure water. Fortunately, I am also a milk lover so I did get some good water through that source. I did not like water. But I began making my self drink at least 3 half liters per day. It helped my feelings, my regularity and I seem to have less colds and infections etc. Although I can't be sure of that. By the way I love Dasani water, so that helps also. They are not paying me to say that. That is the most refreshing and crisp water, I've ever tastedThanks Joel, You're probably right about the colds. Adequate hydration helps the immune system function better. Plus you are more prone to infection when your nasal passage is dry. Glad you've found a water you like. Try the lemon or lime water too.
hi val,about a year ago i stopped with ginger ale as a staple, and switched to water. i feel a lot better, and actually lost some weight. i also didn't start to panic if i knew i was low on ginger ale. thanks for sharing these tips,best regards,sue
Hi Val.Great article. I firmly believe in the benefits of taking in sufficient water.However, dentists are actually recommending against drinking too much of citrus juices as it is hard on tooth enamel (well carbonated beverages are too for that matter). I like a little concord grape juice or pomegranate juice in my water from time to time. It doesn't take much of either to get a lot of taste, so I don't worry about the calories. And I get some good antioxidants.DianneHi Dianne,My husband makes fun of me because I super-dilute my drinks. A little flavor goes a long way, and like they say, it's what you get used to.
Over 70% water I must agree we should be drinking water every day and not what many of us consume as a replacement
Great article! Adequate water consumption is an integral part of my plan, and has been for some time. You have been a big help!Hi Ken,
Thanks for your kind remarks. Glad to hear you are a water drinker! Val
Val,I agree; however, I worry about the glass before bedtime. As I've gotten older I have found it best to stop drinking about an 1-1/2 hours before bed. I don't want to get up in the middle of the night because I then have difficulty getting back to sleep. I also no longer drink with my meals. I am hydrating at all other times throughout the day and keep water in my car.Thanks for your articleHi Nancy,
I hear you about the bedtime drink, but a funny thing happened with me. Because my mouth gets so dry during the night I started drinking about a cup of water before going to bed. I figured since I have to get up around 3-4AM every night "to go", it didn't matter anyway. Not only did drinking that before bed water not make me have to get up any more than that one time, but often I don't even have to get up at all. Go figure
Val.
Such sage advice about a common product whose importance is beyond measure.
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