Frank R.Everyone has a favorite soft drink, tea, energy drink, or flavor of coffee. However, there is one drink in particular that should be everyone’s overall favorite. You guessed it: it’s water, also known as H20. According to UC Davis, water should always be our “go-to” beverage. It is the liquid of life, and is necessary for us to function properly. Think of water like the batteries in a flashlight, or the gas in your car. Without it, we aren’t able to carry ourselves with purpose, or commit ourselves to significant action. We need to drink water. And we need to drink quite a lot of it to stay hydrated throughout the day. How much we need, and how we take it in, are two different questions entirely, but I will cover them both in this article. Here are some hints that I personally follow to help stay hydrated throughout the day.
Why Do I Need to Stay Hydrated?
Let’s be real here: most people are not drinking nearly enough water on a daily basis. In fact, according to the National Council on Aging, around 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. That means they are consistently not getting enough water. Being dehydrated can have a serious impact on your health. Even a mild case of dehydration can negatively affect your memory, for instance, making it harder to recall important information when you need it. To top it all off, it can worsen your mood and even make it harder to concentrate. On the other hand, staying well hydrated will have the opposite effect. You will be able to remember more easily, your mood will be improved, and you will find it easier to focus on what’s truly important, whether that’s your work, social life, or leisure activities.
Another struggle many people have is with weight loss. While we are 50-70% water, losing weight by abstaining from water is definitely not a sustainable or healthy means of improving bodily health. Drinking a healthy amount of water each day will actually make it easier to lose weight because it will help you to feel full and satisfied. There are two compounding factors that make it more difficult to lose weight: lack of sleep, and lack of hydration. These two also go hand-in-hand. When you are dehydrated, you will find it more difficult to get to sleep. When you have a harder time getting to sleep, you often have a harder time staying asleep as well. This feeds into a vicious cycle of dehydration, exhaustion, and weight gain.
How Much Water Should I Drink?
How much water you should drink ultimately depends on some factors, like your daily activity level, how tall you are, how much you weigh, and your gender. Just as in nature, a guinea pig is obviously going to be gulping down less water than a giraffe. Also, if you are in a warm climate, or exercise regularly, you will need to drink more water to account for the fluids you lose through your sweat and urination. Same goes for when you are ill and expelling liquids through vomiting or diarrhea.
However, the basic rule you can follow is that, according to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the average man needs about 3.7 liters of fluid each day, and the average woman needs about 2.7 liters of fluid each day. While this sounds like a lot, it is significantly easier when you consider that your water intake can come from different sources, like foods and other beverages.
How Do I Stay Hydrated?
Obviously, packing water with you in a reliable bottle is a great way to go. However, you don’t have to solely rely on drinking water to keep yourself hydrated (I know that sounds impossible). There are actually some great fruits and vegetables, like cucumbers, tomatoes, and radishes, that contain high amounts of water. Eating these will help imbue you with hydrating liquids that help your body to function at a higher level. You can also drink sugar-free soft drinks, coffee, and tea to help round yourself out with enough liquids to reach your hydration goals. However you find it easiest to give your body the liquids the needs is the course of action you should go with. If you have any other questions about fitness, nutrition, lifestyle, or wellness, feel free to read our other blogs for helpful hints and tips!
