Why Drink Water?

We all know how important it is to drink water. You’re probably reading this article and either getting up to grab a glass or intending to when you’re finished thank us later for the reminder!

We all have the basic understanding of why we should drink the good old H20, but here are some benefits you may not have known!

Body Percentage
You may already know that 2/3rd’s of the body is made up of water, but did you know that this percentage decreases from birth to old age? An infant’s body is made up of 79% water, whilst the average fully grown man is only 57-60%.

Health benefits
Drinking water not only keeps us hydrated and stops us from feeling sluggish, it can also:
“¢ Lubricates the eyeballs!
“¢ Aids body growth
“¢ Improve concentration
“¢ Reduces headaches
“¢ Aids digestion
“¢ Regulates body temperature
“¢ Lubricates joints
“¢ Flushes out wastes and toxins
“¢ Can improve emotions!

How Much Should You Drink
The amount of water you should drink is dependant on a number of factors, and not every ‘glass’ is considered equal. You can get fluid benefits from drinking tea, cordials, juices and coffee, but the other ingredients present in these drinks can outweigh the hydrating benefits.

For Women: 2.2 litres per day is considered the average. A standard metric cup is 250ml so women are encouraged to drink 8.8 standard ‘cups’, 3.9 pint glasses or 2.9 standard drink bottles (usually 750ml).

For Men: The average is 3 litres. This is equal to 12 ‘cups’, 5.3 pint glasses (of water boys, not beer!) or four standard drink bottles.
Interestingly, the guidelines change if you live in the UK! The Department of Health recommends only 1.2 litres, or 4.8 cups per day. Maybe it’s all that tea……

Factors Affecting How Much You Drink
The foods you eat, your age and weight, medication, medical conditions, environment and exercise patterns all affect how much you should be drinking.

Foods
If you eat a diet high in water based foods, such as fruit and vegetables, you may not need to consume as water in the form of a drink.

Age and Weight
The elderly, children and obese need to follow separate guidelines. Children should drink 7 glasses (1.5 litres) for 9 to12 year olds, 8 to 10 glasses (2 litres) for 13+ years.

Medical conditions
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding need to consume more water to avoid dehyrdration. People on some medications or with certain medical condition may need to decrease or increase the amount of water they drink.

Environment and exercise
Hot, humid or high altitude environments mean you need to increase water intake, as well as when you are engaging in intense exercise as you need to compensate for fluid loss through sweat.

Water Myths
You can’t drink too much water. Yes you can! Over consumption of water leads to Hypernatremia, a potentially fatal condition also known as Water Intoxication. Not to mention constant trips to the loo!
Drinking Water helps you lose weight. The act of drinking water will not cause you to lose weight, however consuming water can curb snacking and make you feel full, resulting in less calories being consumed through food.
You Can Only Hydrate With Water. Whilst it’s considered the best fluid to rehydrate with, water can be substituted with milk and fruit juice, provided you understand the sugars and calories contained.

How do you make sure you get enough water?

Source:
www.mindbodygreen.com

If you become concerned about your or anyone else’s health please seek immediate medical attention or go to our health hotlines and website post for further resources  http://www.stayathomemum.com.au/my-kids/babies/important-hotlines-websites/ 

SAHM takes no responsibility for any illness, injury or death caused by misuse of this information.  All information provided is correct at time of publication.