Healthy Living Series- Week 2: Water Consumption

As humans, 60% of our body weight is water.  We need water in order to function properly.  Proper hydration maintains our electrolyte balance, helps digestion, carries waste out of the body, and carries nutrients to our cells.  Dehydration can cause many issues.  Mild dehydration can cause fatigue and headaches.  Severe dehydration can cause heat exhaustion, seizures and in extreme cases: death.  Scary stuff.

It is important to a healthy lifestyle to drink enough water.  There are many recommendations out there about how much water we are supposed to consume.  The Dietitians of Canada recommend a fluid intake of 3 L (12 cups) per day for men over 19 years old and 2.2 L (9 cups) for women over 19 years old.  Fluid intake refers to just that: fluid.  Water, coffee, juice, soda, and tea: they all count.

I am terrible for remembering to drink water.  I usually have a cup of coffee or tea for breakfast.  Once my day gets going, my fluid intake gets put on the back-burner.  I usually realize sometime around lunch time that I am super thirsty.  I then chug as much as I can, which isn't always helpful.

I am making a commitment to drink 8 cups of water every day in addition to my morning cup of coffee.  I have been using a large plastic (BPA-free, of course) tumbler cup or a large water bottle to track my water intake.  I know that I need to drink 2 of the tumblers and 2.5 water bottles  in order to meet my quota.  I keep it near me so that when I see it, I remember to take a sip.  It has actually been working really well!

*NOTE*  It is dangerous to consume too much fluid, so you should always trust your body.  If you are not thirsty, you shouldn't force any more fluid into your body.  Sticking near the 9 cups per day can help make sure you don't overdo it.