How much water should I be drinking?

I have had some people ask about how much water is enough so the quick answer is, Government guidelines say 8 glasses of water a day, but your height, weight and the size of the glass all make a difference.

Most people urinate an average of 1.5 liter a day and you lose another liter of liquid through breathing and sweating.
You get about 20% of your water every day through food, so a general rule is to drink 2 liters of water a day. This is the equivalent to a large bottle of soda, or three and a half pints.

If you're feeling thirsty you're already dehydrated so don't wait until you need a drink, sip small amounts throughout the day to keep yourself hydrated. Factors, such as exercise, weather, illness, or if you're pregnant or breastfeeding all make a difference in how much you need to increase your water intake. The best way to know is to listen to your body.

You can get a certain amount of water from tea, coffee and carbonated drinks but they're all what are called diuretics, which make you go to the bathroom more, as well as increase the amount of water your body uses. They also don't quench your thirst like water does either. That doesn't mean you can't drink them, tea has other health benefits, but it just means that you'll have to drink more water as well.

If you're worried you're not drinking enough, measure how much you're drinking for a few days to see if it's anywhere near the minimum amount. Check how often you go to the bathroom, and your urine color. If it's pale and clear then you're drinking a healthy amount. If it's dark yellow and cloudy you might be dehydrated or not drinking enough.

I hope this helps.

Naturally, Water is Healthy for Your Body!

Who hasn't heard that you should drink more water. I certainly have, but I also have a hard time getting through a recommended amount every day. I realize that almost two thirds of my body is made up of water, and if I don’t replenish what I lose I start to suffer.

Government guidelines say we should drink at least eight glasses a day and some nutritionists claim that up to 80% of us are walking around dehydrated! This lack of fluid could affect your health, your weight and even your job so here is why you need it to stay healthy.

Water helps with weight loss.

Water naturally reduces your appetite. Many people confuse feeling thirsty with feeling hungry so they eat when their body wants them to drink something. When you're dehydrated, fat cells become harder to break down and so if you’re trying to diet it’s a lot harder if you don't drink very much.

Water stops headaches and dizziness.

Don't reach for the aspirin right away, your headache could be a symptom of being dehydrated so drinking water should make it go away. Even tension headaches and dizziness, which can be brought on by fatigue can be cured or helped by drinking water. Fatigue is also a sign of dehydration.

Water clears your skin.

Yes drinking more water can be good for clear skin and it can also help the symptoms of acne. If you're skin is dry, drinking water will give it more moisture, and flush toxins out of your body, along with anything else that shouldn't be there, like dirt and bacteria.

It fights infections.

Drinking water can help fight infections all over your body, not only because it flushes out toxins but because when you're dehydrated you're more likely to catch a bug. This is especially true for getting rid of and preventing urine infections and kidney stones. Being well hydrated is also great for allergies and colds because it clears the airways. Even cold sores can be reduced by drinking more water because they tend to pop up in places where your skin is particularly dry.

It keeps you regular.

If you suffer from constipation or piles you may have been told to increase how much fiber you eat. This is definitely one way of getting rid of the problem but you'll need to drink more water for the fiber to work properly. Otherwise it could have the opposite effect and make things worse.

It makes you exercise better.

We all know to replace the fluids you lose when you sweat with water, but what might not be obvious is that your body works better and harder during your workout if you drink water.

It improves concentration.

Our brain is made of around 85% water, so if you get dehydrated it can affect your concentration and even your short-term memory. Where was I? Oh yeah, water has a particularly strong effect on your math skills, because lack of water causes your brain's energy levels to decrease.

It boosts your energy.

In the same way that not drinking enough water makes your brain slow down it has the same effect on your body.
Assuming your muscles are around 75% water, your bones are about 22% and your blood is about 83% water. If you're dehydrated, all these body parts don't work as well as they should, and as a result, you lack energy and feel tired or lethargic.

It supports your heart.

Your heart is the hardest working muscle in your body, and needs a lot of water to keep it going efficiently. When you get dehydrated your blood gets thicker, and the heart has to work even harder. And if your heart is weak it can lead to more serious heart problems later in life. Personally I help this along daily with a 81 mg. aspirin each morning.