Monday, August 13, 2012

Little things to improve your health....DRINK WATER

Water....your body weight is made up of 60% water.  Water is essential to your health because it
"flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to your cells and provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues."  (Mayo Clinic)




8 X 8 has been around for many years.  This is eight ounces of water eight times a day.  Easy enough to remember, right?  Yes, it is easy to remember but it's not enough. 

"The Institute of Medicine determined that an adequate intake (AI) for men is roughly 3 liters (about 13 cups) of total beverages a day. The AI for women is 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) of total beverages a day. "  (Mayo Clinic)
But how much should YOU drink?  The above suggestions are a great starting point. Here is a calculator that can help you as an individual determine exactly how much water YOU should drink per day.

Did you know that when you are thirsty...you are ALREADY dehydrated?  When you are thirsty that is your body's final attempt to tell you it needs fluids. 

The Signs and Symptoms of Dehydration (according to Symptoms of Dehydration)

Symptoms of dehydration usually begin with thirst and progress to more alarming manifestations as the need for water becomes more dire. The initial signs and symptoms of mild dehydration in adults appear when the body has lost about 2% of it's total fluid. These mild dehydration symptoms are often (but not limited to):

Thirst
Loss of Appetite
Dry Skin
Skin Flushing
Dark Colored Urine
Dry Mouth
fatigue or Weakness
Chills
Head Rushes

If the dehydration is allowed to continue unabated, when the total fluid loss reaches 5% the following effects of dehydration are normally experienced:

Increased heart rate
Increased respiration
Decreased sweating
Decreased urination
Increased body temperature
Extreme fatigue
Muscle cramps
Headaches
Nausea
Tingling of the limbs

Do yourself a favor:  Go get a glass of water.  Do your body a favor:  Keep drinking water.

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