Drinking water and staying hydrated is crucial to staying healthy! Your body is about 60% water and it depends on water to function properly so it is important to drink water every day and not only when you feel thirsty. Typically if you feel thirsty you might already be on your way to dehydration. By staying hydrated and drinking enough water each day we can:
- Stay hydrated and keep energy levels up throughout our workouts
- Regulate our body temperature
- Protect our organs and tissues within our bodies
- Keep our joints well lubricated
- Help our liver and kidneys to remove waste products
- Help prevent constipation
- Help prevent dehydration and undesirable symptoms of dehydration
So how much water do we need to be drinking?
- Typically about 8 - 8 ounce glasses of water a day is sufficient for most adults
- Registered Dietitians also recommend that women drink about 11.5 cups of water per day and men drink 15.5 cups of water per day.
- It is important to remember that different individuals may have different hydration needs (i.e.: a very active individual or individuals with certain health conditions) so it is important to check with your doctor if you have any concerns regarding your hydration needs.
- A good way to determine if you are drinking enough water is to notice if your urine is pale yellow.
How can we increase our intake of water? Sometimes drinking the amount of water we need to stay hydrated can be tough!
See below for several tips on how to make drinking water a bit easier:
- Drink water throughout the day out of a favorite water bottle or cup
- Try putting fresh fruits and/or vegetables in water to give it a bit of a flavor enhancement
- Several fruits and vegetables have a high water content as well; don't forget to include them in your diet! Melons, lettuces, strawberries, and celery all have a water content of 90 to 100%.
- Give sparkling water with no added ingredients a try.
- Carry a water bottle with you throughout your day
