Dehydration
"Drink water!"
We've all heard it a thousand times, from parents/teachers/fitness experts, etc. Even though we're constantly reminded, around 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.
The big question is, why is it such a big deal to stay hydrated?
Our bodies are made up of 50-70% water. Every part of our bodies contain water, from our brain to our bones and skin. Being as it's located everywhere, it has a major impact on how our bodies function.
- Mobilizes glucose for the muscles
- Regulates body temperature through the skin
- Moistens oxygen in the lungs and transports nutrients
- Protects and cushions vital organs
- Aids in waste removal from kidneys
- Aids in nutrient digestion in intenstines
- Lubricates joints
- Makes up 83% of blood
- Composes 22% of bones
...The point is, there isn't any part of the body that doesn't at least partly rely on water to function at 100%.
Now, that water isn't just permanent. It's constantly lost through sweating, urination, even breathing. With that, it needs to be replaced. Guidelines differ, but daily water consumption should be around 50% of your bodyweight OR 100+oz (use the bigger number!). The more you weigh, the higher the need will be. We know this seems like a lot, but it's necessary to perform at an optimal level.
If you struggle with headaches/lightheadedness, lethargy, dry mouth, achy joints, dry skin, higher blood pressure/elevated resting heart rate, etc., these can all be at least partially attributed to dehydration. If you're severely chronically dehydrated, these symptoms may have become so ingrained into your daily lifestyle that they don't seem fixable. We're here to tell you that they can be!
Drinking 100+oz of water a day probably seems very daunting, even nearly impossible. So instead, don't aim for 100oz. Just start with 50. From there, once that becomes routine and easy, start to drink more and more. Even increasing your daily water intake by 2-3 cups (8-24oz) can make a huge positive impact on the symptoms of dehydration.
