H2O is the way to a healthy lifestyle
How do we know we’re drinking enough water? Studies show that our bodies consist of 60% water; you heard me right. From our brain to our toes, we’re primarily made up of water.
For our organs to function correctly, they need to have enough water. For example, our brain needs H2O to manufacture hormones and neurotransmitters. Keep ourselves hydrated, as it allows our cells to grow and reproduce. Everything, from our bones to our saliva, are vital parts of our bodies.
How much do we need to drink?
Women require about 2.7 liters of water a day, while men require 3.7 liters. We receive a great deal of our water intake from our tea, coffee, and the food that we eat daily. However, drinking coffee all day without drinking water is not recommended. Clean H2O helps our kidneys flush out toxins that we take in every day.
Our daily intake of water may vary due to the following:
- Our diet – Our diet has a huge impact on every aspect of our lives. If we’re trying to lose weight, we tend to drink more water to help shed that extra bit.
- Our activity – Are you active? Do you go running and do cardio daily? Participating in exercise will make you drink more water.
- Where we live – People in colder countries are less likely to drink water, and instead, drink hot liquid to keep warm. Warmer countries are more likely to make us want to drink more water, such as in Australia or Suadi Arabia.
- The environment – We may drink more water than others depending on where we grew up, our jobs, and how we learned about nutrition.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding – When women are pregnant, we are told to drink more water, as our bodies need to provide for another little human’s growth. After birth, we’re told to increase our water intake to produce enough milk for our babies. Our bodies rely on hydration to grow and feed the baby in the early stages of their life.
Signs we’re not drinking enough water
If we’re not properly hydrated, our bodies will tell us.
Our urine color can quickly tell us if we’re drinking eight glasses of water every day. A darker color tells us to drink more, while a lighter color tells us that we’re drinking a good amount.
But if our urine is almost colorless, that could mean we’re drinking too much. This can cause sluggishness and lack of concentration. Hydration is an essential factor in keeping our brain and energy levels balanced.
How to increase our water intake
Nutritionists have found delicious ways to drink water to help us drink more.
Choose a beautiful glass or fun water bottle and fill it with fruit in ice cubes; pick blueberries for some antioxidants, blood orange for a sweet taste, or be creative and put in pieces of pineapple for a tropical flavor. Throw in a colorful straw and a fun little umbrella.
For something more refreshing during the summer, add lemon, cucumber, and mint. This is a real thirst quencher. When it’s a cold day, try adding a little bit of lemon and honey to hot water. This will help keep our bodies hydrated, warm, and clear our throats of any infections if we’re sick.
Exercise more. It may not sound like fun at first, but moving our bodies forces our lungs to work, our hearts pumping, and blood moving, creating the need to drink water. Grab a bottle of water and go for a nice long walk. By the time we arrive at home, the bottle will be empty and we’ve had our water for the afternoon.
We don’t need to drink the full two to three liters in the morning. We can spread it out throughout the day.
Lastly, drink a glass of water 30 minutes before your meal and before bed. This makes a big difference.
Great health benefits of drinking water
Drinking water helps prevent kidney stones, constipation, and urinary tract infections; it also balances blood pressure, blood sugar levels, energy levels, and keeps our skin looking great.
We’re regulating our body’s temperature to adapt to drastic weather and changing seasons. Studies have found that water works as a shock absorber for the brain, spinal cord, and for fetuses. With all these fantastic benefits to your body and your health, who wouldn’t want to pour themselves a giant glass of water? We shouldn’t neglect to feed our bodies the most important substance it needs: H2O.
