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The importance of staying hydrated

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By Adelbert Friesen

September 22, 2021

Getting enough water is essential to our survival. We are made with as much as 70% water and burn through a lot of it through the day, so we need to stay hydrated. But what exactly does it mean to stay hydrated?

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In short, staying hydrated means being able to drink enough water to keep your body functioning properly. It means having access to clean drinking water in order to prevent sickness and disease. It also means that you’re not feeling thirsty all the time because you’re not getting enough water in your diet or in your system.

Are you staying hydrated?

Maintaining a healthy level of hydration can help prevent a wide variety of diseases and even save lives. If you do not consume an adequate amount of water through your diet or through drinking, you may be at an increased risk for developing health problems that are associated with dehydration.

Some of these problems include urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney stones, gall stones, heart disease, and stroke. If you do not consume an adequate amount of water through your diet or through drinking, you may be at an increased risk for developing these problems. The list could go on indefinitely!

Crucial for your health

Maintaining proper hydration is among the most important things you can do to look after your health and physical fitness. The proper functioning of our bodies is dependent on adequate consumption of water. Toxins can be flushed out of your system, your body temperature can be maintained, your joints can be lubricated, and digestion can be supported properly.

These are just some of the benefits. As a result of the human body consisting of approximately 55 to 65 percent water, it is imperative that you provide your body with the primary substance that it requires on a routine and consistent basis.

You may be dehydrated

It is estimated that 75 percent of Americans suffer from chronic dehydration, which can lead to a host of other problems in addition to making it more difficult to remain healthy. In addition to experiencing thirst, some of the signs that you may be dehydrated include having a dry mouth, eyes, and lips; feeling dizzy or lightheaded; or having urine that is a dark yellow color.

The recommendation that each person should consume the equivalent of 8 glasses of water per day, each containing 8 ounces, is a common one. However, the amount of water that you should consume should vary greatly depending on whether you weigh 250 pounds or 100 pounds.

The proper weight-to-water ratio

It is now considered standard practice to consume at least a half of an ounce of water per pound of your body weight per day, with the recommendation being to consume up to one ounce of water per day.

Therefore, a human being who weighs 250 pounds should drink at least 125 ounces of water each day, rather than the 64 ounces that was previously believed to be the appropriate amount. Avoid beverages such as coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks, and alcoholic beverages if you want to reduce your risk of becoming dehydrated.

Booze dehydrates you

Alcohol is one of the most effective dehydrating agents, and drinking it can also make you more susceptible to heat exhaustion. If you find that you are unable to drink enough water throughout the day, you should investigate alternative ways to incorporate water into your diet while still maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

If you like to drink, for example, make sure to have a water back with your drink. A water back essentially means having a glass of water to go with your drink. Typically, you’d want to consume one glass of water per drink. And there’s no bad effect to it – you’re even avoiding a terrible hangover in the morning by staying hydrated!

Tricks to staying hydrated

Consuming one cup of fruit or vegetables provides approximately the same amount of water as consuming a half cup. Alternately, if you want to increase the amount that you enjoy drinking water, you could try flavoring it with some healthy ingredients such as mint leaves, lemon juice, or strawberries.

A few tricks to help increase your water consumption are to start your day with a cup of water, it’s a great way to start the day and sets the tone for you during the day.  The next is to set reminders throughout the day to be sure you’re hitting your quota at certain times within the day.

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