Wednesday, February 6, 2013

The Importance of Hydration

Water is possibly the most important substance needed for the human body to function, yet it receives little credit in most people's weight loss plans. More than half of the body's weight is from water - and every cell, tissue, and organ needs water to work properly.

Loss of water:

Your body is designed to take in water as well as to expel it. Whenever we sweat, pee, or breathe, we lose water. Fear not, these are good things! When your body expels water it also expels excess waste and nutrients - cleansing your body.

Not all water loss is good. When large volumes of water are lost rapidly without replacement, we can get dehydrated. You might see this with diarrhea, vomiting, or extreme perspiration. If you feel dizzy, have less urine, dark (concentrated) urine, dry mouth, or an unexplained headache, fetch a glass of water and see if your symptoms improve. Often, water can be just what the doctor ordered.

How much water should you drink?

The rule of thumb is eight eight-ounce glasses of water per day. In reality, the amount of water you need varies from person to person. If you work out every day for 45 minutes, you should consume 15-20 ounces more water than someone who is sedentary. If you find yourself with regular dry mouth/dehydration, chances are you need to drink more water. The easiest test for hydration is checking the color or your urine: the clearer it is, the better.


Having trouble staying hydrated? Here are some helpful tips:
  • Drink 8 ounces of water for every 20 minutes of physical activity
  • Drink 10-20 ounces of water before and after every workout
  • If you can't remember how long it's been since you had your last glass of water, drink 8 oz.
  • Start tracking your water intake; you may be surprised how little you're consuming
  • Try flavoring your water with low-calorie additives like lemon, rosemary, or cucumber slices
  • Make large batches of iced tea at home. This is an excellent alternative to soda or coffee.
  • Carry a water bottle with you throughout your day.
Mark Provenzano, Program Director
Queen Anne Medical Weight Loss

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