In a typical day, do you have any idea about how much water you drink? Staying hydrated is a necessity to live, it isn't just important when you workout. More than 75 percent of your body is made of water. Each bone in your body is also made up of more than 20 percent of water. Not drinking enough water throughout the day causes your blood not to flow properly and causes the digestive process not to run smoothly. Recent research also proves that drinking plenty of water can also reduce the risk of breast, colon, and urinary tract cancers.
I am sure that you have heard the old cliché, drink at least 8 glasses of water per day and 9-13 if you are exercise on a regular basis. Have you ever wondered where they got these numbers, here's how: You typically lose about 10 cups of water per day- 2 cups to evaporation and sweating- 2 cups to breathing functions- and 6 cups to waste removal. You can always make up the water loss by the foods that you eat, but you must make up the remaining missing water by drinking at least 8 full glasses each day.
Some people only rely on their thirst to tell them when to drink. This is a bad strategy. By the time your mouth feels dry and sticky, you are mildly dehydrated. The easy way to prevent this is by drinking water all day long. I personally carry around an inexpensive jug that I purchased years ago. If you don't like that idea you could keep a water bottle at your desk and carry a smaller bottle when you workout. There are a wide variety of water containers to choose from. Another easy way to tell if you are dehydrated is by looking at your pee. If you are not drinking enough water your urine is dark scanty rather than plentiful and clear. There is one exception to this rule, vitamins. Vitamins can make your urine dark. In this case, volume is a better indicator.
I am sure that you have heard the old cliché, drink at least 8 glasses of water per day and 9-13 if you are exercise on a regular basis. Have you ever wondered where they got these numbers, here's how: You typically lose about 10 cups of water per day- 2 cups to evaporation and sweating- 2 cups to breathing functions- and 6 cups to waste removal. You can always make up the water loss by the foods that you eat, but you must make up the remaining missing water by drinking at least 8 full glasses each day.
Some people only rely on their thirst to tell them when to drink. This is a bad strategy. By the time your mouth feels dry and sticky, you are mildly dehydrated. The easy way to prevent this is by drinking water all day long. I personally carry around an inexpensive jug that I purchased years ago. If you don't like that idea you could keep a water bottle at your desk and carry a smaller bottle when you workout. There are a wide variety of water containers to choose from. Another easy way to tell if you are dehydrated is by looking at your pee. If you are not drinking enough water your urine is dark scanty rather than plentiful and clear. There is one exception to this rule, vitamins. Vitamins can make your urine dark. In this case, volume is a better indicator.
