Drinking Water for Optimum Health

If you can do one positive thing for yourself it would be to stay hydrated. The best way to do that is drink water and lots of it. It can be hard to remember in the colder winter months that you need just as much water as you do in the warmer seasons.

Water is such a basic fluid yet does so much for us. It is considered an essential nutrient because it moves waste and nutrients through the body, maintains normal blood pressure, protects and cushions joints and organs, regulates body temperature, and lowers the risk of dehydration and heat stroke. The amount of water that you need depends on your age, gender, weight, diet, and level of physical activity. A general rule of thumb is eight glasses a day but you could need more or less depending on your circumstances. Of course children need water too but not as much. One thing to note is if you are thirsty you are already dehydrated. You should keep a bottle of water or a glass of water with you most of the day and sip from it periodically to keep your hydration levels up. Early symptoms of dehydration include nausea, dizziness, sleepiness, irritability, headaches, and constipation. If you pass into the more developed stages of dehydration you may also experience low blood pressure, fainting, muscle spasms, a bloated stomach, and even heart failure.

Although water is the best liquid to drink to stay hydrated you can drink other things. Small amounts of all natural, sugar free juices are ok but you should not rely on them to drink throughout the day. Stay away from drinks with added sugar, especially cola beverages because they have no nutritional value and do more harm than good to your body. Staying hydrated throughout the day will give you a clear mind, natural energy , and will even make you feel full causing you to eat less.