Don’t be a hydro hater, because water is essential to life and wellness. So, if it’s so essential, why do many people dislike drinking it?
Just to be clear, although I’m not a hydro-hater, I’m also not a hydro-shamer. We’ve all been around those people. You know, the ones who insist that unless you’re drinking a gallon a day you’re doing something wrong. Let’s clear the air on one thing: I don’t drink a gallon a day because (1) I don’t want to pee every hour and (2) I don’t want to constantly haul around a water bottle like I’m a toddler tied to a sippy cup. A water bottle at my desk and water at meals gets me through just fine 😉
So, while I don’t drink a gallon per day, I do drink enough water to stay hydrated. And that’s the grand question for today. How much water is essential for thriving life and wellness?
Sources of hydration
To begin with, let’s discuss ways to stay hydrated besides simply drinking water. According to a medexpress.com article on this very topic some ways to get water into your system are:
- Drinking milk (duh)
- Zucchini
- Smoothies (duh again)
- Vegetables
- Slurping soup (yes, that’s what their article says!)
- Freeze fruit
Okay, so that list isn’t super helpful. However, it is handy to know that veggies pack a hydro punch that most people would welcome.
How much is enough?
Regarding how much water is enough water, the science is mixed. Even the Mayo Clinic is hard-pressed to give an answer. Here’s what they say on their website: “How much water should you drink each day? It’s a simple question with no easy answer.” Hmmm. That’s helpful. They then pass the buck to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to answer the question. According to them, an adequate daily water intake is:
About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) a day for men
About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) for a day for women
Men, that amounts to about 1 gallon a day! Women, your amount is less and sits at approximately .7 gallons. Either way, that’s probably more than you’re presently drinking each day.
Visual cues help
One of the best things we can do to stay hydrated is to have visual cues and reminders throughout the day. Often, we don’t drink because we simply forget to. As mentioned earlier, something I like to do is keep a water bottle at my desk. It acts as a constant reminder to take a sip when possible. I don’t “keep track” of how much I drink, I just drink because the water happens to be in front of me.
As you drink more water, you’ll soon discover more energy in your life because your body is able to more easily rid itself of toxins and other waste. Your joints, mind, and muscles will thank you. Indeed, your whole body will thank you!
