Water is the life blood of all living things in the world. Most of the earth’s surface is covered by water. Plants, fruits, vegetables, animals, and mammals need water to survive. Humans are no different. Water should be the drink of choice for all of us. Unfortunately it is not. As a result, some people suffer the consequences of not making significant water consumption a daily priority.
Growing up, my mother always told me to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. I assume she heard this somewhere. She maybe she heard it on Oprah or on one of the radio shows that she used to listen to. I can still hear her telling me to drink lots of water to this day. She sometimes wouldn’t let me drink anything else until she met my water needs for the day. She often told him that she had drunk enough water at the school drinking fountain to drink kool-aid or soda. That answer never worked. Most of my meals as a child were taken up by a glass of water. I am grateful that she has created a habit in me of drinking water regularly because she has brought me good health. Today, experts say that you should drink water with meals because it helps the body feel refreshed.
Seventy percent of our body is made up of water. Half our weight is water weight. Water helps our internal systems function properly. Our blood and our cells are also made up mainly of water. When we don’t drink enough water, our bodies actually retain water. We can tell this is happening because our urine will be dark yellow in color. This is the body’s way of telling us that we need to drink more water. Conversely, when our urine is light yellow or clear, our body is getting rid of excess water because we are fully hydrated. You really want to stay at this end of the spectrum.
Some experts say that we should drink half our weight in ounces of water a day. If it is hot outside we should drink more water than usual. While exercising or doing strenuous activity that makes us sweat, we should drink water before, during, and after. If we don’t do this, we can become dehydrated. There are many harmful health consequences that come with dehydration, including fainting, headaches, strong-smelling urine, and many more that you don’t want to experience.
There are many ways to get our daily dose of water. The foods we eat, such as fruits and vegetables, contain a lot of water. Natural fruits and vegetables are the best source, not those that are processed in a bag or can. Many of the drinks we drink on a daily basis have a lot of water, even coffee. However, be careful not to rely entirely on juice, soda, and kool-aid for your hydration sources, as these drinks are high in sugar and calories that are not good for the body in high doses. Pure H2O is always a source of pure and elite hydration. Also, for every serving of alcohol we drink, we should drink a cup of water to calm it down because alcohol actually absorbs water.
I am aware that many people simply do not like the taste of water. There are many water supplements on the market that add flavor to your water, as well as added vitamins and minerals that are actually good for you. Personally, my preferred water flavor enhancer is the twist tubes from a certified organic health and wellness company. They have various flavors that help boost immunity, joint health, and the servings of fruits and vegetables the body needs. Flavors range from orange to kiwi to strawberry. I personally use Kiwi Immunity Strawberry flavor instead of Airborne. I have found that these twist tubes give my water a delicious taste without all the added sugar and calories that other competitive brands of water flavoring give it.
There really is no excuse for not staying hydrated and drinking enough water every day. If you’re not currently drinking water, I suggest you start making this a regular routine in your life. You will feel better and it will help your health. Your body will thank you.
