Do We Really Need Eight Glasses of Water a Day?
It seems as if everyone is walking around gripping a water bottle. But is all tbat water really necessary?
Along with the recommendation of walking 10,000 steps a day and worries about not getting enough protein comes another health exhortation: You must hydrate and drink eight glasses of water each day.
But, but..
That’s nearly impossible for many of us. Either:
💧We constantly have to pee
💧We’re never thirsty
💧We don’t like water
💧We forget
💧It’s not convenient
Sure, staying hydrated is important. Our bodies need water to function well. Water helps regulate body temperature. It aids in flushing out waste. It helps keep our joints lubricated, protects our organs, and helps us maintain our energy levels.
Water also helps moisten the tissues in our eyes, nose and mouth, and helps minerals and nutrients dissolve to make them accessible to your body.
It also plays a role in kidney stone prevention and heart health.
But do we really need to drink all that water?
When you consider that 60 percent of our body is made of water and that each day, we lose between eight and twelve cups through breathing, sweating, urine and bowel movements, it’s hard to ignore the need to replenish - especially in the warmer months, when we tend to perspire more.
So, yes, you do need to drink up.
But here’s the good news: It’s not just plain water that replenishes the fluid your body loses.
What else counts?
Any food or liquid that contains water. Some of the superstars include:
✔️coffee
✔️tea
✔️carbonated beverages
✔️asparagus
✔️watermelon
✔️cucumbers
✔️celery
✔️lettuce
✔️cantaloupe
✔️strawberries
✔️peaches
✔️cottage cheese
✔️salmon
✔️shrimp
✔️yellow corn
✔️tomatoes
✔️broccoli
✔️spinach
Since adequate hydration is variable (depending on your health, activity level, environment, body size and health condition, for example), how do you know if you’re getting enough water?
Check your urine.
Aim for a straw or lemonade hue. If it’s dark (resembling apple juice), you might be heading toward dehydration (or maybe you’re already there).
Important to know: Signs of dehydration also include dizziness or feeling faint, dry mouth, trouble urinating, irritability, muscle cramps, confusion, and rapid breathing and/or heartbeat.
Warning: Experts say that people 60 and older are at greater risk of dehydration because thirst levels naturally drop, and our body composition changes.
To give you a general idea of what you need, another “rule” is to take one-third of your body weight and drink that number of ounces in fluids.
Carrying a refillable water bottle, like these from Owala, is always a good way to ensure you have hydration with you. I love mine (and am fond of filling it up with a lot of ice, which keeps the water nice and cold even on the hottest days).
Cheers!
All true 👍👍