Drink Your Water

I think one of the most important things we can do for our bodies to get healthy is to DRINK WATER!

Ok, we’ve all heard it right?!? Drink at least 8 glasses of water everyday. This seems like such an easy thing to do I mean really it’s not that difficult. So why is it so hard? Seems strange that we can drink soda one right after the other but can’t drink the water. I know the taste and sugar is what keeps us going back to the unhealthy alternatives, but let’s kick the soda and reach for the water.

In my research I found that a human can go for more than three weeks without food but the maximum time an individual can go without water seems to be a week, an estimate that is based on observations of people at the end of their lives, when food and water intake has been stopped. But one week is a generous estimate. Three to four days would be more typical.

Your body uses water in all its cells, organs, and tissues to help regulate its temperature and maintain other bodily functions. Because your body loses water through breathing, sweating, and digestion, it’s important to rehydrate by drinking fluids and eating foods that contain water.

At least 60% of the adult body is made of it and every living cell in the body needs it to keep functioning. Water acts as a lubricant for our joints, regulates our body temperature through sweating and respiration, and helps to flush waste.

According to the editorial staff at WebMD, drinking ice cold water helps boost your metabolism because your body has to work harder to warm the water up, therefore burning more calories and helping you to lose weight. Plus, ice cold water is just so much more refreshing than water that’s room temperature.

If you want to reduce fat around your stomach or tummy, you need to keep your body well-hydrated. Drinking enough water will help boost your metabolism, improve digestion, and cleanse your system of toxins. So, drink enough water throughout the day to burn more calories and stay fit. I know for myself that I can tell a huge difference in my body when I drink water. At the end of the day I don’t feel as bloated and I feel like I have more energy and better mental clarity.

Some say they don’t like the taste of water. But guess what, you can teach yourself to like water! Keep drinking it and you will find that you can adapt to the taste. I usually have a water bottle with me at all times. Now, that doesn’t mean I actually drink it like I should, but I do keep it handy. There are all kinds of water to choose from such as distilled, spring, sparkling and more flavors than I can count.

Some say that tea and coffee count as long as you don’t add sugar. I disagree, tea and coffee are diuretics and can cause your body to dehydrate. So I suggest sticking to the real thing. I like the taste of distilled water myself. I don’t like tap or spring water. They just have a weird taste to them and tap water tastes like chlorine to me. But everyone is different, so keep trying different brands to find one you like.

How much water is enough? There are a lot of different opinions on this as well. Some say 8-8 oz glasses per day, some say half your weight in oz. This means if you weigh 200 lbs then you need to drink 100 oz of water per day. I had a friend that actually marked a thermos and filled it up every morning. Her goal was to finish the thermos before the day ended. I use a Hidrate Spark bottle to help me track how much water I drink. I really like the idea, it flashes to remind me to drink. Another idea is to watch your urine (I know) but if it’s pale yellow then you’re getting enough water. If it’s really dark then you need to drink up and flush out those kidneys.

Find something that works for you. Set a goal, try to make it fun and you’ll stick to it. There are lots of apps for your smartphone to help track what you drink. The Hidrate Spark app even allows you to see how your friends are doing. This way you can encourage each other or even make it a competition. Whatever you do – Drink Up!!