You’ve heard all the health tips in regards to drinking water and how much: ‘drink 6-8 ounces of water a day’, ‘drink a gallon of water a day’, ‘drink water until your urine is clear’ and you’ve also heard ‘don’t drink too much water it can over work your kidney!’, ‘don’t drink water until your urine is clear’.
So how do you know how much water is enough and how much water is too much? Basically, how do you know how much water you need to take in daily?
Essentially you shouldn’t ever ‘slam’ water even when you’ve just run a marathon. You should however always have water readily available and sip it throughout the day. Drinking water before or with a meal can make you feel fuller faster.
Listen to your body to determine how much water you need to drink. If you are dehydrated you will experience daytime fatigue and your metabolism will slow down.
If you are dehydrated you will also notice a decreased mental focus and break in concentration as well as a decrease in physical performance.
If you are experiencing these symptoms you need to drink more water! Also if you are dehydrated you will notice differences in nerve impulses and muscle contractions. [dehydration effects]
You see, if you are dehydrated you will also lose electrolytes which are necessary for these nerve impulses and muscle contractions. You’ve heard of Gatorade, right? Gatorade is stock full of electrolytes and is also advertised for ‘dehydration’.
The benefits to getting enough water in your diet are numerous. If you get enough water you are fighting off disease and illness. You see disease and illness love an acidic environment.
A dehydrated environment is also an environment full of acid. If you are hydrated your body will maintain a healthy PH balance as well as have healthy oxygen levels.
Listen to your body in terms of getting enough water in your daily intake. If you are thirsty maybe you shouldn’t reach for the Coke or the Red Bull.
Maybe you should reach for a glass of nice cold water. You know when your body is telling you its thirsty it is not craving soda pop, its craving water. Headaches, slowed mental state and fatigue are all signs telling you that you are dehydrated and need to drink more water!
