“Drink eight 8 ounce glasses of water every day.” “Drink more water and lose weight!” “Drinking water is overrated.” “Drink water for hydrated, younger looking skin!” “Water will flush the toxins from your body.”
You’ve heard it all when it comes to water, but which statements should you trust? Water can’t perform miracles on your body, but there are benefits of drinking water that you should know about.
How much should I drink?
To get the fluids your body needs to stay hydrated, you don’t have to down eight 8 ounce glasses of plain water a day. You just have to take in about 2 liters of fluid a day. These fluids can come from foods or beverages that are water based or contain water. However, the Institute of Medicine recommends different quantities for different people:
- Men – 13 cups
- Women – 9 cups
- Pregnant/breastfeeding – 10 to 13 cups
Why drink water?
About 60% of your body weight is water. Water is highly involved in the functioning of your body. It carries nutrients to cells, allows for proper digestion and flushes toxins from major organs. So, replenishing the loss of water in your body is important for proper functioning.
Are you tired or prone to getting headaches?
It seems as though symptoms of dehydration would be fairly obvious, but you could be suffering from mild dehydration throughout the day and not realize it. Not having enough fluids in your body can cause headaches, muscle weakness, sleepiness and dizziness. If you’re not taking the time during your busy day to take a few swigs of water or to eat properly, your body may not be getting the fluids it needs to run at its best. If you feel thirsty, you’re already mildly dehydrated.
How much do you exercise a day?
If you are an avid runner or you are involved in active recreation often, then you need to replenish your body with water regularly. When you exercise you sweat and burn water with increased respiration. To compensate for this water loss in the body, you need to drink an additional 1 to 3 cups of water a day.
Is drinking water good for weight loss?
There are a lot of claims and studies out there about how drinking water will help you lose weight. The simple truth about this statement is that if you are drinking water, you aren’t drinking higher calorie sodas and beverages that contribute to your weight. Substituting high calorie drinks with water will reduce the amount of calories and sugar you take in throughout the day.
Where do you live?
If you live at a higher altitude or in a dry or hot climate, you may have to drink an extra amount of fluids a day to replenish your system. Living in Dallas during the summers can be brutally hot and increased amounts of water may be necessary. Check out this water calculator to see about how much water is recommended for you according to your location and body type.
The importance of drinking water and getting the proper amount of fluids shouldn’t be minimized. Overall it is necessary to get about eight 8 ounce glasses of fluids a day. Check out the Mayo Clinic website for more information about dehydration and fluid intake.
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Very informative and useful text. It’s good to learn something new. I really enjoyed in reading.