Yes, its Another Post on Drinking Enough Water
My apologies, to those who drink their recommended amount of water, feel free to skim through.
But, unfortunately you are in the minority.
It is estimated that 75% of Americans are dehydrated, and I suspect Canada and Europe aren’t far behind.
Water is the most important and abundant substance on Earth, it is the universal solvent and the human body is at least 60% water!
Water is the primary component of all the bodily fluids:
digestive juices
blood
lymph
urine
tears
sweat
Water is involved in almost every bodily function:
Circulation
Digestion
Absorption
Elimination
On average, depending on where an individual lives, their activity level and any medications they may be taking, we need 12 cups of water per day!
No need to be concerned about drinking 12 cups of water per day, you can get some through the food you eat, about 4 cups, the rest should come from drinking water, so yes 7 cups of water!
Most of us are dehydrated and don’t drink enough water and consider coffee, juice or pop an adequate source of liquids. I am sorry to say it is not.
What happens when we don’t drink enough water?
Adult On-set diabetes
Arthritis
Asthma
Back Pain
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Depression
High Blood Pressure
High Cholesterol
Kidney Stones
Headaches/Migraines just to name a few
Wow who knew that water can help prevent all those issues! A quick note on the quality of the water.
Tap water can contain unnatural substances like:
Chlorine
Fluoride
Cooper
Lead
Sometimes alkaline substances are added to the water to prevent corrosion of the pipes that change the pH, these chemicals may react to the organic substances creating toxic chemicals. The best idea is to only drink filtered water and avoid tap water. Added chemicals that are ingested can created issues for the body that include:
Nervous System disruption
Lung Cancer
Stress on the liver and kidneys
Ok, so a few tips on getting enough!
Get a large, glass is preferred, container and fill it up at the beginning of the day and finish it by the days end
Use a tracking app or a high tech water bottle
Make sure you take water with you in the car, so you always have it on hand
Buy a nice water bottle that you like to look at and make sure it is always filled, a marked one can help keep you on track
Add slices of lemon, cucumbers and mint to make it more interesting
Once you empty your water container fill it up again
Herbal tea (non caffeinated) can keep it interesting
Drink a glass after each bathroom break
Just a note about drinking water at meal times. Refrain from drinking large amounts of water before meal times, yes it will fill your stomach up and could prevent over eating but it will also dilute your digestive juices creating slow digestion. Be sure to stay hydrated during the day and start slowing down in the evening, keep the nightly bathroom breaks to a minimum!
Stay hydrated! If you have questions about your diet, nutrition feel free to reach out to me, I am happy to help!
Sarah
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