Health Tip

Do you drink enough water every day?

by Rachel Petersen, RN

Amazing Water

Do you drink enough water every day? Chances are, you don’t. The human body needs to replace the fluid that it loses through natural functions like sweating. Research shows that even a 1 percent loss of body weight due to mild dehydration can lead to increased fatigue and difficulty concentrat­ing.1 The recommended minimum is eight glasses of water daily.

Do you need a little encouragement to drink enough water every day? If you don’t like the taste of tap water, or it isn’t safe where you live, you can:

  • use a distiller to make the water taste cleaner
  • add a little lemon to improve the flavor
  • make unsafe water drinkable by bringing it to a boil and then letting it cool2
  • drink it cold (I tend to drink more if I keep a chilled water bottle at my side)
  • find a drinking buddy (my husband and I race to see who can drink the most throughout the day)

Don’t underestimate the benefits of water while exercising! Keeping hydrated can improve the function of your joints, leading to a better workout. Water also decreases the risk of kidney stones, so if you are at risk, drinking plenty of fluids can help prevent stones from forming.

Did you know that drinking water can help you lose weight? If you have stubborn pounds that won’t budge, you may find that drinking water will help them disappear. Combined with a proper diet, exercise, and plenty of rest, water has been shown to help decrease weight. Some people think they feel hungry when they need a drink, even though it’s actually thirst. Drinking a glass of water 30 min­utes before meals can help you eat smaller por­tions and have more appetite control.

So raise your glass or water bottle, and toast to drinking more water this year!

1 http://www.shapefit.com/water-benefits.html. Accessed 7 November 2011.

2 http://www.survivaltopics.com/survival/how-long-do-you­need-to-boil-water. Accessed 8 November 2011.