Did you know that simply drinking more water can repel and even treat Alzheimer’s disease? Water flushes your system, and regulates a healthy digestive tract. Water promotes heart health and a strong circulatory system. Your body is roughly 60% water, and uses up some of your water supply each day. That water has to be replaced.
The problem is, you probably are not drinking enough. The average adult needs to drink at least 1 gallon of water each and every day for optimal health. Practice the following 5 simple tricks to help you drink more water on a daily basis, and your health will see a positive boost.
1 – Make a goal and stick to it – Human beings are great goal setters and achievers. If you just think about drinking more water in the back of your mind, you may be successful, or you may not. However, if you write down a specific goal for daily water consumption you program the habit-forming part of your brain to increase your water intake.
2 – Plan for it – Keep gallons or liters of fresh water on hand at all times. Store some in your refrigerator for a cool and refreshing zero calorie treat that also helps fight hunger pangs. Keep bottled water at your job, in your vehicle, at home and in your backpack when you are on the go. The more water available, the more likely you are to drink this healthy beverage rather than an unhealthy, sugar-filled and processed alternative.
3 – Buy a really nice water bottle – Don’t just head to your local $1 store for this purchase. Find a good-looking, functional, BPA-free water bottle you really like. If you are proud to display your new healthy habit, you are much more likely to stick to it.
4 – There’s an app for that – It seems there is an application for just about anything. This includes apps like Daily Water, iDrated, Waterlogged and Eight Glasses a Day. They make it easy to track your water consumption on a daily basis, and range from free to just $.99 per download.
5 – Add healthy natural flavor – Why not pop some blueberries, cucumbers, strawberries, limes or orange slices into your water? When you are done drinking, you enjoy a healthy fruit or vegetable
Are You Dehydrated?
You have probably heard that 65% to 75% of your body is made up of water. That is why it is so important to stay hydrated. Your body needs to continually take on water (and a lot of it) to function properly. This affects not just your physical health, but your mental health as well.
Do you ever experience the following symptoms?
- Unnaturally dry skin
- Few tears when you cry
- Fever
- Muscle cramps
- You are tired all the time
- Bags under your eyes
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Rapid breathing or heartbeat
- Dry, sticky mouth
- You are thirsty all the time
Those are some common signs of mild to severe dehydration in teens and adults. Dangerous cholesterol levels, liver and joint damage, weak muscles, kidney stones and constipation are just a few of the health conditions dehydration can cause.
Problems can arise quickly when you don’t supply your body with the water it needs to function properly. Any lost liquids in your body should be replaced immediately. This means drinking a lot of water while you exercise, or any time you exert yourself physically.
What Causes Dehydration?
Some causes of dehydration make a lot of sense, like intense physical activity. You sweat out a lot of the water in your body, and if you do not replace that liquid, you can become dehydrated. Here are a few more reasons your body may not be properly hydrated.
- Diabetes
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Alcohol poisoning
- Food-borne illnesses
- Frequent urination
- Side effects of medicine
- You don’t drink enough water
When you have diarrhea, your body does not properly absorb water from the foods you eat. This is the most common cause of dehydration. Blood pressure medications and antihistamines can also create a lack of hydration in some people.
How to Stay Properly Hydrated
You may drink plenty of water each and every day, and still find yourself with several of the dehydration symptoms mentioned above. This could be a case of adrenal fatigue. If you drink plenty of water throughout the day and are still thirsty, with cravings for salt and sugar, you may want to have an adrenal checkup.
However, most of the time, you simply need to drink plenty of water. Dehydration can be is a life-threatening condition. Most of the time you can combat this potential health problem simply by drinking water frequently throughout the day.
This means carrying bottled water with you as you move through your daily routine. Sports drinks, energy drinks and sodas do not count. Water is so important to normal bodily functions. From head to toe, inside and out, and even mentally, your body benefits from a healthy supply of water. Excess water will simply be passed through your system, so make sure you are drinking plenty of this