To drink and how much to drink … that is the question . . .
I am often asked how much water we should be drinking on a daily basis. The answer is … it depends.
It depends mainly on three factors; your health, where you live, and how physically active you are.
Keep in mind that every system in our body depends on water to function properly.
Even mild dehydration can cause fatigue, lack of concentration and irritability.
Think about this, every person loses about 4 cups of water daily just by breathing and sweating.
And don’t let thirst be your guide , by the time you are thirsty you are already slightly dehydrated.
So, how much water should we drink?! I have followed the half of your body weight in ounces formula and the 8 x 8 rule ( Drink eight, eight ounce glasses of
water a day).However, both of these formulas can fall short. It has been recommended that men consume 13 cups/3 liters and women 9 cups/2.2 liters daily.
Now throw in some exercise and you will really fall short. To get a more accurate estimate of the ideal water consumption for you, go to
www.calculatorslive.com and enter your weight and activity level and presto- the magic number is revealed. And you may be surprised at what you find. Don’t worry there are many ways to get extra water during the day. Drink a glass before and after each meal - big bonus, it may even help curb you appetite too. The water in your coffee, iced tea, fruit smoothies etc. can count towards your total intake as well. Always hydrate before, during and after exercise. And especially after receiving any kind of
body therapy or
massage.Christine Diehl
Message Therapist
