Connect with all the Get Healthy Content
Sixty percent of the human body consists of water, and it needs constant replenishment to keep all your systems operating smoothly. Many Americans don’t stay properly hydrated, though, which in some cases can be downright dangerous to your health.
Getting an adequate amount of water offers a number of benefits, from maximizing your workout performance, facilitating weight loss and lubricating your joints and organs to helping prevent headaches, hangovers, constipation and kidney stones.
How much H2O do you really need?
Water intake isn’t one size fits all. Traditional advice would have consumers believe that they should be downing eight 8-oz. glasses of water daily. However, contemporary guidelines may vary depending on your age, sex, pregnancy or breastfeeding status, activity level, overall health, the climate you live in and other factors.
People are also reading…
Some experts now recommend most healthy men aim for a daily goal of 13 8-oz. cups of water; nine cups are recommended for healthy women. Lest you feel like you’re chugging (and running to the bathroom) all day long, keep in mind that juicy fruits and vegetables like melon, celery, apples and grapes can count as some of your daily water requirement.
It may sound gross, but paying attention to how much you’re urinating can help you monitor your hydration level. Most people typically urinate six or seven times per day. If you find yourself going less than that, or if your urine is dark in color, you may want to start drinking more water and talk to your doctor.
Boosting your water intake
Cup after cup can seem like a lot. Fortunately, there are ways to make drinking water less of a chore. Start with small changes. Sub in a glass of water for your second cup of coffee or usual lunchtime soda. Drinking a glass of water as soon as you get up in the morning gets one out of the way early.
If you don’t enjoy plain tap water, install a filtration system to boost the quality and taste of your water at home or at work. Keep a pitcher cold in the fridge to pour from, throwing in a few slices of lemon, orange or cucumber to mimic those fancy carafes you see at the spa. Or change things up by sampling some sparkling water varieties. Canned and bottled seltzers are available in a wide variety of flavors, and most of them are calorie-free.
Invest in a good water bottle to keep on your desk, take to the gym or sip from during your morning and evening commute.
It is possible to get too much of a good thing. Drinking too much water too quickly can throw your blood sodium levels out of balance and result in nausea, headache, irregular heartbeat and other symptoms. Sip steadily, but don’t overdo it.
Take steps to make improvements in your hydration today and reap the benefits today and tomorrow.
