Now, I know this is hardly the most revolutionary or groundbreaking topic, but it seems to be one of the most commonly ignored medical directives.  Drinking the recommended amount of water each day seems like a no brainer, yet studies show that 75% of Americans are “chronically dehydrated.”  How much should you have each day?  What are the benefits, you ask?  Keep reading.  If you don’t, my mother will give you a lecture, and nobody wants that.

A Big Part of Your Makeup

An adult human body is comprised of 60-70% H2O.  It is an integral part of your blood, muscles, lungs, and brain.  Water transports oxygen to cells, removes waste, regulates body temperature, and distributes nutrients, in addition to providing protection for joints and organs.  Without the proper levels of this vital molecule, your body will shut down.

How Much?

Let it be noted that I didn’t come up with is, but here is a great way to figure up a healthy amount of water.  Notice it has nothing to do with “glasses” because that is a silly and ambiguous method of measuring things.  Thanks to nutrition.com for the following:

A good estimate is to take your body weight in pounds and divide that number in half. That gives you the number of ounces of water per day that you need to drink. For example, if you weigh 160 pounds, you should drink at least 80 ounces of water per day. If you exercise you should drink another eight ounce glass of water for every 20 minutes you are active. If you drink alcohol, you should drink at least an equal amount of water. When you are traveling on an airplane, it is good to drink eight ounces of water for every hour you are on board the plane. If you live in an arid climate, you should add another two servings per day. As you can see, your daily need for water can add up to quite a lot.

Health Benefits

Would you like to enhance fat loss, stave off ailments, feel less hungry, and look younger?  You could make a whole lot of easy payments of $19.95, or you could just drink more water.  Your body uses it to haul away the byproducts of fat breakdown.  Back pain, fatigue, headaches, and muscle spasms can mostly be prevented through proper hydration.  Believe it or not: water is an appetite suppressant, while also keeping toxins flushed out of your skin.

Over the years, I began to notice a trend.  If I went to mom feeling sluggish, disoriented, or nursing a headache, she would inevitably question my water intake for the day.  She is not a doctor, but nine times out of ten the woman is right on this one.  Now, (to her certain irritation) my wife is the recipient of this diagnosis whenever she complains of such symptoms.

How Do You Know if You Are Dehydrated?

Let’s be real for a moment.  What color was your pee last time you visited the John?  No worries, I won’t tell anybody.  If it was clear, or a wee (get it?) bit yellow, then you are properly hydrated.  If not, then bottoms up!  You have some drinking to do.  Some other sure-fire signs of dehydration: thirst (there’s a shocker, but truthfully, you are dehydrated long before then), chronic pains in joints and muscles, constipation, and headaches.

In closing; if you plan on making “high quality H2O” part of the daily routine, get yourself a re-usable bottle and fill from the tap (filter if necessary).  Not only is it expensive to buy the stuff in plastic bottles, but doing so produces a lot of waste.  At the very least, please recycle your plastic!

DoGood!

Chappy

Email me: Matt@DoGoodedness.com with questions, suggestions, or thoughts!

photo by Darwin Bell via Flickr