Are
You Getting Enough?
We’ve
all heard that drinking water will help keep us healthy.
But how much is really enough?
The
experts have always said, on average, that eight eight-ounce
glasses per day will suffice. However, that might not be
enough. While eight is great, amounts really need to be
tailored to meet the needs of every individual. Most adults
will lose between two to three quarts of water per day
by way of normal body functions, but athletes and those
who live in work in warmer environments tend to lose more.
For those people, drinking more water will make up for
the bigger loss of water they had through perspiration,
as well as in the regulation of body temperature.
Our
bodies are made up of 55-70% water, but it does not replenish
itself, so drinking water helps maintain that healthy balance.
But even still, many will walk around dehydrated, most
of the time unknowingly. That is because thirst is a poor
indicator of dehydration. By the time someone gets thirsty,
it is too late! Or, if one is thirsty, they may go for
a beverage that does not actually replenish the body. A
cold soda may feel nice going down, but beverages with
caffeine are not meant to hydrate. Water is the best remedy
for dehydration. If mild dehydration sets in, it can decrease
one's energy level and mental functioning and increase
stress on the body. Severe dehydration can have far more
damaging effects.
There
are three important rules when it comes to drinking water:
1.
Drink twice as much as it takes to quench your thirst.
2. Drink frequently throughout the day to prevent dehydration.
3. Drink at least eight glasses daily, or one cup for every 20 pounds of body
weight. For example, a 150-pound person who does not exercise or work in hot
climates needs 7.5 cups.
While
some fruit juices and green tea may account for some fluid
intake, you can count out beverages such as coffee or alcohol.
They have a mild diuretic effect, which promotes urination
and therefore water loss, which ultimately defeats the
purpose.
QUICK
TIP: A trick to ensure people are drinking
their daily allowance is to fill a pitcher or jug with
the allotment of water and keep it on your desk at
work, or handy at home. The goal is then clearly marked.
As you drink down the water, you know that you are
on the right path to drinking enough water.
And
finally, those frequent bathroom trips are not a bad thing.
The best indicator that one is drinking enough water is
when urine comes out pale yellow to clear. A dark yellow
colour, however, is a sign your body is dehydrated and
is concentrating the urine in an effort to conserve water.
End
of Article
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