Kerry McClure – Practical Wellness
January 29 ·
Water is essential for life. The average amount of water in your body is about 10 gallons. Our bodies contain up to 75% water by weight, our brains a little more. It’s recommended we drink at least 48 ounces of water per day to replace the water lost through urination, sweat, tears, and breathing. If not, dehydration is possible.
There are many factors that influence water needs including, but not limited to, how active you are, the climate you live in, your health status, foods you eat/drink, and if you’re pregnant or breast-feeding.
As a result, opinions vary as to how much water we need daily to remain healthy. Most recommend 6 to 8 (48 – 64 ounces) of water/day, though 8 to 12 glasses is optimal.
Another useful gauge for adequate daily water intake: take your body weight in pounds, cut it in half and convert to ounces.
(i.e., 120 pound person = 60 pounds, convert to 60 ounces which is equal to 7 ½ glasses of water per day (60 / 8 = 7.5))
Here are some ideas to get that water in each day…
1. Drink a glass of water every two hours while you are awake.
2. Another option might be 1/2 cup of water every hour you are awake.
Don’t wait until you’re thirsty; schedule regular water breaks throughout the day instead. Yes, there may be more urination but that’s a really good thing for your body!
Water is vital for the following functions:
1. Digestion
2. Lubrication
3. Transport of nutrients
4. Transport of wastes (without abundant, clean water proper detoxification becomes impossible)
5. Temperature control
6. Appetite control – dehydration can often be mistaken for hunger
7. Help and support of certain diseases (i.e., pain, including of the back and neck, as well as headaches; heartburn, high cholesterol, hypertension, obesity, ulcers, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.)
8. Diuretics such as caffeine and alcohol draw water out of your cells and increase the rate of urination. If you drink coffee or other dehydrating beverages, compensate by drinking an additional glass of water
Inadequate water intake can cause a range of medical complications, including bladder infections, excess calcium buildup, electrolyte disturbances, fatigue, muscle spasms, irregular heartbeat, dry lips, dark urine, and becoming dizzy or light-headed upon standing up.
How much water is right for you?
References:
Bauman College
Bauman, E., M.Ed., Ph.D., and Friedlander, J., M.S., N.C. (2010). Foundations of nutrition. Penngrove, CA: Bauman College.
Murray, M. (2005). The encyclopedia of healing foods. New York: ATRIA Books.
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