Rethink Your Drink
More than half of our body is comprised of water, and we continually lose about 2 to 3 quarts of water daily simply by sweating, exhaling, and eliminating waste. Hydration, the daily replacement of water, is essential for basic body functions. We can go about 8 weeks without food, but only a few days without water. Still, studies show 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated, drinking only 2.5 cups of pure water daily.
Water is the most important nutrient you can consume. Water:
Removes toxins
Reduces bloating/inflammation
Reduces neuroinflammation (brain fog, headaches)
Regulates body temperature
Moistens oxygen for easier breathing
Absorbs shock for the brain, spinal cord and joints
Lubricates joints
Improves sleep
Creates saliva to begin the breakdown of food
Water also enables your body to consume food properly. Once food is broken down, it needs to be absorbed by the body. In the process, your body reabsorbs about a gallon of water daily from your intestines. If we’re not giving your body water, it will struggle to take up nutrients, and you’ll feel fatigued. Every cell in your body needs water to flush out waste. What would happen at your house if you were unable to flush out waste. It would get toxic, pretty quick, right? The same is true in every cell of your body.
How Much Water Do I Need?
The ideal quantity for your body can be calculated as follows:
Your body weight ÷ 2 = # of ounces of H2O per day
For example, if you weight 175 pounds, divide by two and the result is 87.5 ounces (2.5 liters) per day for proper hydration.
Here's a great Hydration Calculator that provides more insights:
http://www.hydrationforhealth.com/en/hydration-tools/hydration-calculator/
Allow 4 weeks to gradually increase your daily intake. Track your consumption for 3 days for a baseline, then figure out how much you need to increase weekly to reach full hydration by the end of 30 days.
About two weeks in, you may feel “water-logged”. Keep going gently, sipping water through the day. It takes time for the body to realize a constant source of water will be available, and then excess water can be released.
You’ll feel so much better with proper hydration. I’ve seen headaches, brain fog, joint pain, skin itchiness, and so much more resolve with water. Don’t take my word for it. Try it and see how your body likes it!
References:
Mitchell, H.H., Hamilton, T.S., Steggerda, F.R., and Bean, H.W., 1945, The chemical composition of the adult human body and its bearing on the biochemistry of growth: Journal of Biological Chemistry, v. 158, issue 3, p. 625-637. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9258(19)51339-4