Hydration - Drink Up

Did you know that more than half of your body is made up of water? It accounts for about 60% of your body weight. Every cell in your body needs water to function properly. Some of its most important roles include flushing toxins out of your body and carrying nutrients to your cells. The amount of water you need each day can depend on a few factors such as where you live, your activity level, and your overall health. Not consuming enough water can lead to dehydration, which can vary in severity from making your tired, or can cause problems as severe as your body systems not being able to function properly.

An average, healthy adult woman living in a temperate climate should consume about 9 glasses of water each day, while men in the same living conditions should consume about 13 glasses. Move or travel to a hot, humid environment and you're going to sweat a little more than usual, increasing your water loss, meaning that you'll have to consume even more. Higher altitudes (greater than 8,200 feet) can trigger your body to use even more water. Other circumstances that will demand extra chugging are exercising, illness or health conditions, pregnancy or nursing. To determine if you're getting enough water, a lot of answers can be found in your urine. Dark yellow means not enough water, clear can mean too much. Shoot for lemonade-color and use that as your indicator.

Sports drinks are hydration alternatives that are really intended for athletes doing endurance activities, or on some occasions, for someone who has lost a lot of water through illness, such as vomiting or diarrhea. Sports drinks contain sodium that the body loses through sweat during a long bout of exercise. Replenishing that sodium lost is important for preventing hyponatremia, a condition that disturbs electrolytes and can be very serious. If you're drinking a sports drink at work or home, I hope you're running place for hours on end. In addition to containing sodium, they also contain a lot of unnecessary sugar. When you're not running a marathon, opt for water instead.

Coconut water is a hidden gem in the world of hydration, although it is starting to gain popularity. It is an isotonic beverage that has been attributed to not only efficiently re-hydrating the body, but also boosting metabolism and assisting in weight loss, detoxifying your body and protecting against viruses, cleansing the digestive tract, balancing your PH, treating kidney diseases, and boosting poor circulation. Coconut water can be an acquired taste. It does come with natural fruit flavoring, but I have found just a splash of pure 100% cranberry juice gives it a nice, refreshing flavor. Coconut water is carb-free, 99% fat-free, and very low in calories. This is a great addition to your diet to keep you hydrated, and to take advantage of all the other health benefits.

Cheers!