10.11.2020 – The Importance of Staying Hydrated

Do you know how much water you consume daily?

OCTOBER 11, 2020 – An article posted by the Harvard School of Public Health states, “Drinking enough water each day is crucial for many reasons: to regulate body temperature, keep joints lubricated, prevent infections, deliver nutrients to cells, and keep organs functioning properly. Being well-hydrated also improves sleep quality, cognition, and mood.”

Headaches, fatigue, kidney stones and constipation are common symptoms of dehydration. The National Academies of Medicine recommends 11 glasses of water per day for women and 16 for men. You may think that’s too much water to consume daily, but 20% of that total can come from hydrating foods such as fruits and vegetables. Think cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, strawberries, watermelon and grapefruit.

The following infographic details the levels of daily fluid intake.

Dehydration even affects our mood. “We did a study on people who were mildly dehydrated, which can happen within just 30 minutes of exercise and we found mood was compromised in both men and women,” Douglas Casa, CEO of the University of Connecticut’s Korey Stringer Institute which studies athletic performance. There should be a word similar to “hangry” for dehydration moodiness.

Fluid intake not only benefits the internal body systems, but drinking enough water can improve skin elasticity. Think of how much money you could save on Botox when you could just drink more water!