I think when it comes to staying hydrated and monitoring the proper amount of water. It would help if you were drinking throughout the day. Most of us are not consistent. I’m not saying everyone, but I think if we could measure the average amount of water you have been drinking daily over the years, you would be surprised. So how much water should you drink each day and at what times?
I never realized this until I started to fill up a jug of water in the morning with the amount measured I needed to drink that day.
You have probably been dehydrated many times, and not even realized that’s the cause of how you feel.
There are also essential reasons why you should be drinking these amounts. The human body is up to 60% water, with the Brain and the Heart 73%. Even higher are the lungs at 83%, so you can see how important water is.
For whatever reason, you don’t drink water that often; I hope I can change your mind after you finish reading.
There is no excuse if you value your health!!!
You can try the “It just doesn’t taste that great” excuse, as someone told me last week. Throw a lemon or some fresh fruit to make it taste less boring.
You could even take that to another level and fill up a big pitcher with fruits and herbs and leave them overnight if you have been to a spa before, you may have seen some water with cucumber slices.
If you don’t like any of those options, I suggest you send me a message or leave a comment below; I have a few more options you may like.
Mix your protein shakes with water.
I wrote an article on the best Whey Protein deal; if you want to check it out, you can find it here Whey Protein Isolate.
.
THE BENEFITS OF DRINKING WATER
Like the title of this article says, lose weight! Water can definitely help you lose weight. One of the main reasons is that your appetite will be reduced.
Water is an appetite suppressant. This means it reduces your appetite. Drinking water before meals can make you feel fuller, making you eat less food when it’s time to eat.
Scientists believe drinking almost 20oz of water before you eat is enough to stretch the stomach, which will tell your brain that you are full.
Your metabolism can be boosted by drinking water, and studies prove this. One study in 2003 showed that drinking .5 liters of water increases your metabolism by around 20% on average for the next hour once you have drunk it.
Drinking cold water is actually better because more energy in your body can bring the cold water up to body temperature. When your body is working harder to warm the water up, it’s burning more calories.
This is great, and you are probably thankful I didn’t say warm water is better. Drinking cold water is so much more refreshing!
One of the most common symptoms of dehydration is headaches. Water is very beneficial if you want to keep yourself from getting headaches.
Here is a great example: if you drink alcohol, I’m sure you have had the occasional hangover headache more than once.
Alcohol is a natural diuretic that stimulates the body to excrete vitamins, minerals, and salt through the kidneys. This can make you dehydrated.
A good rule of thumb is to have a glass of water for every alcoholic drink you have. This can help prevent feeling awful the next morning.
Water can help you from getting cramps while working out. There is a reason professional athletes are always drinking water or Gatorade.
If you see a basketball player come out of the game with a cramp, they are usually told to drink water and hydrate. Another great benefit is to prevent you from getting sprains.
Water is a natural lubricant for your muscles and joints. You are less likely to get ankle sprains and become more flexible.
HEALTH CONDITIONS WATER CAN HELP WITH
Water is essential for human health, and it can help with a variety of conditions. Here are three health conditions where water can be especially helpful:
1) Water is great for preventing dehydration. This is the most common condition that water can help with, and it’s important to stay hydrated when you’re active, in hot weather, or eating a high-sodium diet.
2) Water can also help relieve constipation. It’s a good idea to drink plenty of water if you’re having trouble going to the bathroom regularly.
3) Finally, water is beneficial for weight loss. When you drink water before meals, you’ll feel fuller and faster and eat less. This can help you lose weight over time.
HOW WATER HELPS MAKE SURE YOUR BODY IS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY
Water is essential for human life. It is the key to keeping your body functioning at its best. Not only does water help to prevent dehydration, but it’s also important for cognitive function, mood, temperature regulation, and more.
Most people know that they should be drinking eight glasses of water per day, but many don’t know why. Here are four reasons why you should make sure to fluid intake every day:
1. Water Helps You Stay Hydrated
Dehydration can cause several negative health effects, including unclear thinking, mood changes, increased body temperature, constipation, and even kidney stones. Staying hydrated is key to keeping your body functioning at its best. Drink plenty of fluids daily, including water, juice, and tea.
2. Water Helps Keep Your Cognitive Functioning at Its Best
Your brain is 73% water, so it’s no surprise that staying hydrated is important for cognitive function. Research has shown that dehydration can have a significant impact on cognitive performance. When you’re well-hydrated, you can think more clearly and focus better.
3. Water Can Help You Lose Weight and Keep it Off
Drinking plenty of water can help you lose weight and keep it off in two ways. First, if you drink a glass of water before meals, you’ll eat less because you’ll feel fuller. Second, drinking lots of water helps your body burn more calories. The more water you drink, the more calories your body burns – up to 100 per day!
4. Water Keeps You Cool in the Summer Heat
When the weather is hot outside, it’s important to drink plenty of fluids to stay cool and hydrated. If you don’t drink enough water, your body will overheat, leading to heatstroke or even death. Sipping on cold drinks throughout the day can help keep you cool and refreshed, especially during the summer.
.
.
.
HOW MUCH WATER SHOULD YOU BE DRINKING
This is pretty controversial because you will read many different opinions on how much fluid intake is correct from different experts.
The golden rule I live by is eight eight-ounce glasses. This can vary based on body weight, though.
To give you a better visual, this is equal to a half gallon. So picture a gallon of milk and half of that being full of just water. All this can vary because of your height/weight and the activity you are doing.
I personally stick to the 8×8 rule and fill up a half-gallon jug in the morning. You can write with a marker on the side when you should have a certain amount gone to hold you accountable.
If you are still unsure of how much water should you drink, there is a way to tell. Once you are done going to the bathroom, if your urine is clear, that is a sign you are not dehydrated.
If your urine is very dark, this is most likely a sign you need to drink more water. There are signs you can look for that can mean you are dehydrated, on the other hand. Other than the obvious one feeling thirsty, another one is feeling dizzy.
I used to always feel very dizzy and light-headed during my workouts back in the day. Someone at my gym asked me if I was drinking enough water. I clearly wasn’t because from that day on, I drank more and didn’t get dizzy.
WATER STUDY: In 2016, there was a study done with rodents. The study said there was a considerable amount of evidence that increased water intake, i.e., increased hydration, leads to loss of body weight. In rodent studies, the effect is clear and consistent (1)
.
WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO DRINK WATER
Water is one of the most important things our bodies need, but when is the best time to drink it?
There are a few schools of thought on this subject. Some people say that you should drink water before bed, others say that water intake first thing in the morning is best, and others say that you should drink it throughout the day.
So, what’s the right answer?
The best time to drink water is probably when you’re thirsty. Our bodies constantly lose water through sweat and urine, and we need to replenish that water throughout the day. Drinking water before bed can help you avoid dehydration, and drinking water first thing in the morning can help jump-start your day. But if you forget to drink water or don’t have time, don’t worry – you can always make up for it later.
HOW LONG CAN A HUMAN GO WITHOUT WATER
Water is essential to human life. It is required for our bodies to maintain an internal temperature balance and keep cells alive. In general, a person can survive without water for about three days. However, some factors can affect this. For example, how much water an individual body needs and how it uses water can vary from person to person.
Generally speaking, though, if you don’t have water fluid intake for three days, you’ll experience some adverse effects. You may start to feel thirsty, and your mouth may become dry. You may also start to feel lightheaded and have a headache. As time goes on, you may become dehydrated and eventually lapse into a coma.
So, if you’re ever in a situation where you don’t have access to water for three days or more, be sure to ration your water carefully and drink as much as you can when you have access to it. And most importantly, stay hydrated!
WHAT DOES PH LEVEL MEAN AND WHAT IS THE BEST PH
PH stands for Potential of Hydrogen and is a measure of acidity and alkalinity in water-soluble substances. The PH is based on a number scale from 1-14 and 7 being the neutral or middle point.
The lower the number, the more acidic it is, and the higher the number, the more alkaline. This basically means that your water is hard or soft.
The next time you go to the grocery store, look at some water, and some will have a number on the bottle. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you should look for a number between 6.5-8.5.
This is what public waters should keep maintained as well.
One way to tell without testing your water is by taste. High-PH water tastes like baking soda, while low-PH water can taste a little bitter or metallic. So should you buy these waters that are higher alkaline water waters and advertised to have much better health benefits? There really is no evidence that water marketed as high in Alkaline is better for you than tap water.
Most likely, you will see some marketing to try and influence you as it did to me back in the day, but there isn’t enough evidence. These companies have also been found to advertise a higher Alkaline number on the packaging, but the numbers didn’t match up when tests were done.
I remember watching a few Tests done in labs, and some were way off. So for these reasons, I stick to good filtered water and don’t worry too much about higher Alkaline water.
.
FOODS THAT ARE HIGH IN WATER
Another option to get your daily water intake is through food sources. You would be surprised, but some are very high in water content and almost all water.
Fresh or cooked fruits are very high in water.
Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Pineapple, and Strawberries, for example, are around 90% water. The highest of all the fruits is Cucumber coming in at around 96% water.
You can also get hydrated through healthy Vegetable options like Lettuce, Celery, and Green Peppers, which are all above 90%. These are all water-rich foods you need to keep your body functioning properly.
Someone asked me a few months ago if it was possible to have too much water or overdose. Believe it, you can have too much water and die, but this is extremely uncommon.
This is known as water poisoning or intoxication, and you are drinking more water than your kidneys can get rid of in your urine. You are only a danger if you are drinking large amounts of water for short periods of time.
For example, the half-gallon of water over a standard day vs. that half-gallon of water in a few hours. Only in the few hours would there be any risk of danger.
.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON H2O
There you have it. One of the most overlooked things about living a healthy lifestyle is your water intake. Water is so important that you can only go 3 to 4 days without it, unlike food, you can go about three weeks without.
The first thing you should be doing once you wake up is having a full glass of water. Think about it, your body just slept for 7-8 hours or so and not a drop of water.
Keep things simple, when you feel thirsty, drink and when you’re not thirsty anymore, stop. Try experimenting and see what works best for you.
I hope this has helped you realize the importance of water if you haven’t already. Please leave me a comment below if you have any questions.
If you need an amazing protein to mix with your water, you can check a review I wrote on my favorite Pro Jym Protein Powder.
.
“When the well’s dry, we know the worth of water.”
-Benjamin Franklin
.
This post may contain affiliate links which means I may receive a commission for purchases made through links. I will only recommend products that I have personally used! Learn more on my Privacy Policy Page.