Be Water Wise

Most people know that it’s important to stay hydrated, but what does that really mean?

Your body is composed of about 70% water, making it critical to nearly every function in the body. Benefits of drinking water include:

• Boost memory and mood.
• Reduce sugar cravings and aid weight maintenance.
• Improve exercise performance.
• Reduce headaches and migraines.
• Help out the digestive system and flush out waste.
• Lubricate the joints.
• Cushion the brain, spinal cord, and other sensitive tissues.
• Enhance skin health.
• Regulate body temperature.

While drinking water is the best way to hydrate your body, you can also supplement water with fruits and vegetables containing water, like watermelon (which is 90% water!), oranges and grapefruit. Although veggies are not as full of water, you can still get a nutrient-rich water boost from celery, cucumbers, tomatoes, and green peppers.

Take care with other beverages, however, as not all of them are hydrating. Sodas and sports drinks are often loaded with sugar, and consuming too many caffeinated or alcoholic beverages may actually dehydrate you.

Water is so crucial to us that we could last as long as a month without food, but only about one week without water. It is recommended that the average adult drinks a minimum of 64 ounces of water a day in order to stay hydrated. You may need to increase your water intake if you are physically active because you lose water through sweat and through breathing. In fact, you could lose as much as 18 to 35 ounces during an hour of high-intensity exercise.

Your body will start sending signals if you are getting hydrated. Some of these include:

• Fogginess or unclear thinking
• Mood change
• Dry mouth
• Overeating
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Urinating less than usual