Water Intake
Episode #6 of the course 10 days to better wellness by Alyce Eyster
“No water, no life. No blue, no green.” —Sylvia Earle
Hi! Today we’ll learn the importance of water, specifically why it is an important component of wellness, and tips to drink more.
Fifty to sixty-five percent of our bodies are made up of water. Like food, water is a luxury that unfortunately not everyone in our world has access to. Oftentimes, food is scarce and water is contaminated. Those of us lucky enough to have clean water are urged to drink half our body weight in ounces. Other recommendations are to drink 6-8 8-ounce glasses per day.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, in addition to ridding your body of waste, water helps maintain proper body temperature, lubricates and cushions joints and protects the spinal cord and tissues.
It is important to drink more water if you live in a hot climate, are physically active, have a fever, or have diarrhea and are experiencing vomiting.
Science & Research
The science of drinking water is a bit controversial. One study found high incidence of cardiovascular disease in those who drink very small amounts of water.
On the flip side, a study conducted in Australia debunked the 8-glasses of water per day suggestion, imploring folks to “listen to your body” about thirst. It found that 8-glasses a day probably won’t harm you. However, there is a condition where you can drink too much water, called hyponatremia or water intoxication. This condition has been linked to lethargy, nausea, seizures, coma and sometimes death.
Registered, licensed dietitian, wellness coach, and speaker Catherine Kruppa explains, “Drinking water helps fill you up, gives you energy, and you’ll feel less bloated.”
So while the science behind drinking 6-8 glasses of water might not be definitive, some find that it keeps the systems running smoothly and makes them feel less bloated. Another benefit is that the more water you drink, you are probably drinking fewer sugary beverages, a good thing for your teeth and calorie count.
How to Drink More Water
So some people aren’t crazy about water. Here are some ideas to get more into your diet:
• Splash a bit of your favorite juice into an icy glass of water. My favorite is lemonade, but it could be cranberry or pomegranate juice.
• Add fruit! From a squeeze of lemon, lime or orange juice to berries of all types, this is a fun way to jazz up your water. Also, cucumbers offer a refreshing twist and will make you feel like you are at the spa.
• Some say bitter flavors are supposed to discourage hunger, so try a dash of bitters in your sparkling water as a mocktail.
• Drinking water with a straw can help it go down faster, too.
Tomorrow: Be sure to get your ZZZs because tomorrow we’ll get enlightened about sleep.
Recommended TED video
What Would Happen If You Didn’t Drink Water?
Recommended book
Your Body’s Many Cries for Water by F. Batmanghelidj
Share with friends