We have all heard the popular mantra that we need to drink more water. We carry around bottles of water to the office, the gym, just about everywhere. Unfortunately, the guideline of eight glasses of water a day is just that…a guideline. While we may not need to drink that much water, there is a real benefit to drinking water on a regular basis. Water is present in just about everything we ingest, from water or other drinks to our food. We here at HPFY can give you some insight into how much water you may need and when it is appropriate to drink it.
So, why is water so important to us? Basically, the human body has a built-in system that prevents us from getting dehydrated and water is at the center of that system. Not to mention, our body and cells are predominantly made up of H2O. Our body uses water for everything from flushing waste from our system to aiding in brain function. The benefits of water include:
Water plays a key role in the many-body system's functions. It impacts the central nervous system and our cognitive function as well as helping us avoid urinary tract infections and kidney stones, which I don’t need to tell you are potentially debilitating.
We have been told to drink eight glasses of water a day. While it may be a great marketing slogan for companies that sell bottled water, the amount of water you need to intake depends upon a number of factors. Overall health, individual activity level, and even where you live may impact the amount of water you need to intake. In order to have our bodies properly function we need to replace the water in our bodies that we lose due to perspiration, urine, and even breath. If not, we run the risk of dehydration. The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine came up with the following guidelines:
As you can notice, these daily recommendations are for fluids, not necessarily water. Part of this recommendation can come from other fluids and foods. Roughly 20% of our daily fluid intake comes from food and the rest comes from liquids. The 4 greatest factors that dictate how much water you need to drink are:
Yes, it can be a little boring to drink water only. Finding beverages that are predominantly water can break up the monotony of drinking out of the same water bottle every day. Fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon or spinach, can contain large quantities of water and beverages such as milk and herbal tea are predominantly made of water. If you are thirsty, it is your body’s way of telling you that you are becoming dehydrated. Drinking too much water though can be dangerous. If you intake too much water your kidneys have a tough time expelling this water and you can experience hyponatremia. This is a dilution of your sodium in your blood and can be life-threatening!!
Water is always your best bet for hydration and has a multitude of benefits that should not be ignored. Consult your doctor or a registered dietitian to determine how much water is appropriate for you and your lifestyle. Remember, water is the essence of life!!
Disclaimer: All content found on our website, including images, videos, infographics and text were created solely for informational purposes. Our content should never be used for the purpose of diagnosis or treatment of any medical conditions. Content shared on our websites is not meant to be used as a substitute for advice from a certified medical professional. Reliance on the information provided on our website as a basis for patient treatment is solely at your own risk. We urge all our customers to always consult a physician or a certified medical professional before trying or using a new medical product.
Kevin Cleary has been a Health Products For You contributor for many years and has a degree in marketing. His health and wellness journey has a very personal meaning and has guided him in his content writing for HPFY.
In 2006, ...
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