Water is the source of life, and unless you’ve been living in a cave lately, you know that you need to drink water – and lots of it – every day for optimal health. ย The human body is almost 60% water;ย ย the brain is composed of 70% water, and the lungs are nearly 90% water. Lean muscle tissue contains about 75% water by weight; body fat contains 10% water and bone has 22% water. About 83% of our blood is water, which helps digest our food, transport waste, and control body temperature.ย
According to the Mayo Clinic’s website, ย lack of water can lead to dehydration, a condition that occurs when you don’t have enough water in your body to carry out normal functions. Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you tired.
What about the advice to drink eight glasses a day?
Everyone has heard the advice, “Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day.” That’s about 1.9 liters, which isn’t that different from the Institute of Medicine recommendations. Although the “8 by 8” rule isn’t supported by hard evidence, it remains popular because it’s easy to remember.
About.comย has a great tool on their nutrition link called a Hydration Calculator. ย I completed the quiz attached to the link, and according to their calculator, I should be drinking 2.4 Liters (81.5 ounces) of water every day, which is just slightly higher than the recommended ย “8 by 8” rule.
2+ liters of water can taste boring sometimes, and a great supplement to your water intake is coconut water. ย It tastes great, is nutritionally satisfying, and very refreshing. ย Vita Coco is a popular brand in my household. ย Coconut water is also a great sports hydrator, and much better for you than artificially sweetened sports drinks. ย ย Vita Coco is loaded with potassium and is as natural as natural gets. ย I always have a coconut water handy during and after my hot yoga practice, and keep bottles handy in my office and kitchen. ย Like the Vita Coco folks say…”Life is hectic enough, and you should be hydrated while you live it. Go ahead, get hydrated and remember that life is a sport.”
A great way to get your family to drink more water is to replace their sports drinks (or God forbid sodas!) with Vita Coco or other naturally flavored water beverages.ย Just be sure to check the labels to make sure that any flavoring comes from natural and not artificial sweeteners. You can also install a da29-00020b filter on your refrigerator to make the process of getting pure water that much easier. Not only will it be easier, but you will also be cutting down on the amount of waste generated by plastic water bottles.
Try drinking the recommended amount of water for your body size and lifestyle, and see how great you can feel. ย Chances are you’ll have more energy, feel more alert and your skin will look radiant!