How much water do you drink in a day and are you drinking enough? It’s likely that you aren’t. 85% of the clients that I meet with are drinking a bottle or less a day. Our bodies need water to function properly and if we aren’t giving it what it needs it could lead to many different issues such as dehydration, constipation, chronic fatigue syndrome, headaches and brain fog to name a few. Our bodies are made up of 50%-75% water and when you don’t drink enough, you literally aren’t getting enough of the very ‘stuff’ that makes you.
Studies have shown many different recommendations on how much water you should be drinking daily. This amount of water also depends on the individual and can change based on the persons’ health and how active they are. The basic recommendation is 6-8 glasses of water a day. Some people can drink less than 8 glasses a day and that be enough some people need more. If you are working out or doing an activity that makes you sweat, you need to be drinking enough water to cover that fluid loss. You should be drinking water before, during and after your training session.
Proper water intake can help to flush toxins out of the body, which can improve complexion and energy levels. Have you ever felt sluggish, forgetful and overly fatigued? This could be because mild dehydration can impair your mood, and lead to major reductions in memory and brain performance. Your heart works harder to pump oxygenated blood into the bloodstream. Other organs also work less efficiently, but drinking more water can help the body function better. Basically, when you aren’t drinking enough water your brain is screaming at you to hydrate your body.
If you are on a healthy lifestyle journey and trying to gain or lose weight water is going to be a key player in your progress. For my clients, the goal is to get a gallon of water in a day. I know starting off that seems impossible especially if you have been consistently drinking less than 8oz daily. Set a small goal for yourself to increase your daily intake by one glass or one bottle a day. If you are the type of person who “doesn’t like the taste of water” there are plenty of sugar free add-ins that will change the taste while keeping you hydrated. I also recommend buying a bottle or jug to drink out of, this helps you track exactly how much water you are drinking.
To summarize, water intake is very important when it comes to your overall health the more you drink the more benefits you will see and feel. Just because you are increasing your water doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy other drinks that you love in moderation. Your body can also absorb water from certain foods such as fruits and vegetables. Increasing the amount you drink daily will increase your way of life and make you healthier and happier all around.
