Here on the west coast of the country, we are lovingly called the ‘Wet Coast’. For those of us that grew up here, rain is just part of the beauty of living here in Vancouver, Canada.
For most other people, and even some that live here, rain is awful. Personally, I actually love the rain. It smells good, makes our part of the world amazingly green. After a dry spell it’s refreshing and makes fresh clean water very easily accessible. It is a very precious resource and we actually sell a lot of it to California because we are blessed with so much. But, even here, where we have so much at our fingertips, we sometimes don’t drink enough of it.
Water is key to our very existence. We all know that. But why?
Here are some reasons to keep up drinking it and then some help to keep you getting it in your daily routine.
● We, as humans, are more water than anything else.
● Water helps remove toxins from the body, in particular from the digestive tract.
● Water suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat.
● Water regulates the body's cooling system.
● About 80 percent of your blood and about 70 percent of your lean muscle is water.
● A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.
● Water helps energize muscles
● If you are trying to lose weight, keep in mind the fat you are trying to lose is considered waste. Your body gets rid of waste through your bladder. Contrary to some conversations, fat doesn’t simply ‘melt’ away. It must leave somehow.
There was once general info that a person should drink 8 8 oz glasses of water each day. I have found that that is no longer true. Technology has once again shown that our numbers are off. We actually should be consuming more than once thought. The typical person should consume half of their weight in oz each day. Let me show you; a person who weighs 200 lbs should drink 100 oz of water. or 12.5 cups, or 2.9 litres. There is also research out there that shows that we typically don’t recognize the difference between thirst and hunger. We will naturally turn to food when we should actually be drinking water.
There is also some contradictory info on what you can consume and consider it water. Again, it used to be said that water is water and that is all that counts. Then, coffee and other caffeinated drinks were to be considered harmful to your water consumption. Then, sport drinks came along.
Let’s clear that up and find ways to get your water levels up.
1. Figure out how much you really should consume. Know that if you start drinking more water than you are used to, you will be spending more time in and out of the bathroom. Your body will take a little time to get used to its new water level, then it will find its new normal.
2. Start your day with a glass of water. Water at your bedside to start your day, sets you up the right way. Adding lemon, adjusts your ph as well.
3. Learn to drink with every meal and start by having a drink before you sit to eat, regardless which meal.
4. Choose beverages that you like to consume. It makes things much easier if you like the taste. Add some lemon, add a no calorie flavour such as Mio, Dasani Drops, or Crystal Light. Even coffee and tea, in moderation, count toward your water total.
5. Keep a bottle of water with you wherever you are. Have a stash and place them everywhere. In the car, gym bag, beside your bed, at your desk.
6. Choose high water content fruits and veggies. Their high water content will add to your hydration. About 20% of our fluid intake comes from foods.
7. Reduce your alcohol consumption. Alcohol has a dehydrating effect so, if you are going to consume, trade one water then one alcohol to reduce the damage.
8. Sports drinks are useful when consumed after or during vigorous and prolonged exercise and in high heat. But most experts agree that water works better than carbohydrates or sugary beverages for moderate exercise. For instance, if you drink 12 oz of plain water, your body will absorb 8 oz of it within 15 minutes. If you drink 12 oz of a 10% sugar solution, less than 1 oz will be absorbed in the same period. A typical soft drink is a 10 to 12% sugar solution.
9. Use mental tricks if drinking is tough for you. Use a straw, fancy glass, ice cubes, whatever it takes.
10. Keep in mind how good your body will react to the water it has been needing. Your skin, hair, and nails will all thank you.
Making small changes in your routine can sometimes make the biggest difference. So drink your water. No EXCUSES!
Once, during Prohibition, I was forced to live for days on nothing but food and water. - W. C. Fields
