This is a topic near and dear to my heart. Being a Wellness Coach, this a frequent topic. It has been my experience that the average American does not drink enough water.
As an educator of Wellness I will ask, “How much water do you drink?” Some have the glazed over look, some smile and others may say, “probably not enough” or some might proudly say, “I drink two 16 oz., bottles a day.” At which point I just say, “so how is that working for you?”
I am going to get on my Band Wagon for a few minutes.
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Do you know why we need to drink water?
Our bodies are made up of about 75 percent water. Our blood is mostly water and our organs have water in them. You’re thinking, "SO!" Well if you are not constantly hydrating your body, you’re de-hydrating your body, just like a river that has been dammed, it will dry up and so will you.
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Life CANNOT live WITHOUT water. We are the smartest creatures and the only creatures on earth that question WHY we need water. All other living creatures just do it!
Water regulates your body’s temperature; like a radiator in your car.
Water plays a vital role in nearly every bodily function.
Water is essential for proper digestion, nutrient absorption and chemical reactions. It helps remove toxins (acidic waste) from the body, in particular from the digestive tract.
Water is essential for proper circulation in the body, and flexibility of the blood vessels.
Water is essential for weight management, which includes weight loss.
When we talk about water, or as I refer to it, High Quality H2O, I am NOT talking about coffee, tea, soda, juice, alcohol, or whatever else you are thinking. I am strictly talking about H20. Most coffee, teas and sodas have caffeine which actually dehydrates the body. Also, the juices and soda usually have high sugar content (which is another topic for another day).
Now knowing that water is important, the next question is how much water should a person consume in a day? Good question.
There is a standard formula that I use. Take your body weight and divide it in half. Take that number and that is the number of ounces that a person needs. Example: Mikey weights 100 pounds, we are going to divide that in half. The answer is 50. Mikey needs 50 ounces of water daily. Now this formula is a basic formula. Does it fit for everyone? Absolutely not. When the temperature is HOT, a person needs to replenish all that they are losing. The same goes for athletics and intense training–any type of strenuous work. There are more. You get the picture. Listen to your body when it tells you it needs water Become more in tune to it.
What is the best water to drink? Tap, bottle, purified, distilled, reverse osmosis ...
There are all kinds of studies out there on bottled. I do have my own opinion–and it is only my opinion–but bottled water is not the best choice. Here is why:
- On average it costs $1-$4 per gallon.
- More than 1.5 billion tons of plastic water bottles go into landfills each year and it takes more than 300 years for plastic to degrade.
- The plastic bottles leach phthalates and other chemicals that are in the water and also creating tonic in the ground which end up back in our tap water.
- Not to mention all the fossil fuels used to make, store, transport and deliver bottled water
I have used reverse osmosis. I have no complaints. Distilled is stripped of all minerals. There are times to drink distilled, just not on a regular basis. Truthfully, I would not drink water straight from the tap. I recommend you review information available. What I have found is that it is acidic, may contain lead, pharmaceuticals and contaminates.
I prefer a water purification/filtration system. I have one in my kitchen and one in the shower. The one I prefer disinfectants/byproducts, lead, microscopic organisms, taste/odor/sediment, industrial solvents, herbicides/pesticides, organic chemical compounds, pharmaceuticals. The cost averages out to 11 cents per gallon. If this of interest to you I have attached the link. http://www.marketamerica.com/product-3825451/pureh2o-countertop-water-filter.htm You decide. If you have questions contact me. Happy Hydrating!
