Water is the great elixir of life. Our brains are made up of about 65% water while our bodies are composed of 70-80% water! Every system in our body is dependent on water to transport waste and nutrients. If you want to detox, lose weight, or maintain your health; you need to stay hydrated – drinking enough water is the best way to start. The amount of fresh water in our bodies determines the proper functioning of our organs, our circulatory system, our respiratory system, and our digestive system.
How Much Water?
When you are looking to find out how much water you should drink, there are a number of different opinions out there. It can seem confusing and leaves you wondering if your day will consist of sloshing from one activity to another. One resource says to take your body weight, divide it in half, and then turn that number into ounces and this will give you a good goal to shoot for as far as water intake. Depending on how much you weigh this could leave you feeling water logged and searching for bathrooms everywhere. If you are able to take in this much water, GREAT! But if you attempt this and you feel sickly or sluggish, you may want to tone it back and slowly work up to it or close to it. The common thought is that a minimum of 8 glasses of water a day is sufficient. But we all come in many different shapes and sizes. Some of us live in desert climates while others live in more tropical climates, and everything in between. How much water you need is a very personal matter.
Check Your Urine
I realize there may have been some wrinkled noses after reading that subtitle. But checking your urine is a great way to gauge whether your body is getting enough water. Your urine should be nearly clear. If it is bright yellow, dark yellow, orange, or even nearly brown, this is your body’s dehydration warning! Some vitamins such as vitamin B may give your urine a psychedelic day-glow yellow, but it should still have a clear quality to it. Eight glasses of water a day is a good starting point, especially if you are a non-water drinker. However, by looking at the color of your urine you can visualize whether you’re in need of more.
Beware of Excess Diuretics!
Another excellent consideration is the diuretic. You may think you are drinking plenty of water. Maybe you love water! But, if you add sweetener to your water in the form of colored flavored additives, or if you make tea and add a sweetener, you have just turned that water source into a diuretic. Your body will then use the water already in your body to push out that fluid. Essentially, you will be visiting the bathroom more and actually be getting dehydrated rather than hydrating your system properly. Some teas, even without sweetener, are diuretics. Mint teas have natural diuretic properties. Diuretics are not all bad. They help your body to relieve water retention. However, if not balanced properly with good old fashioned water, you will find yourself suffering headaches, constipation, irregular sleep, and even sickness from a weak immune system.
New Life and New Health
By avoiding the things that dehydrate your body like coffees, some teas, sugars, sports drinks, and the general lack of water, you are giving your body the strength to heal itself. Migraines, headaches, mental fuzziness, muscle aches, irregular sleep patterns, and muscle fatigue have all been connected to dehydration. Most people are walking around dehydrated and do not even know that the solution is as close as the nearest faucet! No need to reach for fancy bottled-water (unless visiting a country where it is advised) – properly maintained filtered tap water is all your body needs.
Applications & Resources
- Check out the Mayo Clinic’s and the Better Health Channel’s article on water & body functions
- Go here for simple ways to detox your body gently
