It's a Waterful Life
Most of us know that we don’t drink enough water in a day, and yet we constantly brush it off and don’t really try to consume enough. Drinking plenty of water has so many positive health benefits, and is even the cure to many symptoms you could be experiencing. I use to be really good about drinking a gallon of water a day, but then when I got diagnosed with Lyme’s disease one of the symptoms I was experiencing with incontinence. Lyme’s disease impacts muscle control, and what specifically is different in every case and for me it was incontinence. Because of this, I cut down my water consumption. I was barely making it to the bathroom in time without drinking water, that I couldn’t imagine what would happen if I was actually drinking water. As embarrassing as it is there were definitely times when I did not make it. That was humiliating for a 25-year-old to be having accidents like a toddler. As my symptoms started clearing up I just kind of forgot to drink enough water altogether. One day I had an epiphany and realized that I need to get back to drinking my gallon of water a day. Especially because my gut was and is messed up from being on antibiotics for such a long time.
Each person’s specific needs when it comes to water intake is unique. Your age, activity level, and current health state affect the amount you need in a day. The general rule of thumb is to consume 2.7 liters if you are a woman and 3.7 liters for men.
Something to keep in mind when reaching the right level of hydration is to stick to fresh water instead of sugar-sweetened drinks. You can make your water more exciting by adding fresh fruit for natural flavor. Try adding cucumber and mint, or watermelon and pineapple.
Another thing to keep in mind is making sure the quality of the water that you are drinking is clean. Everything from agriculture, to chemicals from industry runoff, to household plumbing can affect the quality of tap water. If you drink spring or some type of filtered water it will ensure that you are reducing your exposure to contaminants like chromium, lead, and atrazine which are commonly found in tap water.
It is also important that what you drink your water out of is safe. Reusable stainless steel, glass, or BPA-free bottles are better for your body and the environment. BPA is a chemical found in plastics and it interrupts your natural hormone production causing hormonal imbalances and a slew of other health issues. Your best bet is getting a stainless steel bottle like a s’well or hydro flask, or a glass mason jar! Also, by using a reusable bottle you can keep it with you throughout the day so you can constantly hydrate throughout the day. The more water you drink earlier on in the day the less you have to drink before you go to bed. If you drink a lot of water at night odds are you will have to wake up during the night to use the bathroom, and this disrupts your sleep cycle.
There are so many benefits to drinking enough water! You will have less cravings, because dehydration can sometimes be confused with being hungry so you may eat unnecessary calories when really you just need some water. Drinking plenty of water helps to regulate your digestion. Most people think fiber is the only thing that matters when it comes to digestive regularity, which it is very important and many people do not consume enough fiber in the U.S., but if you are dehydrated you will actually become constipated. Staying hydrated also helps with glowing skin. Our skin is the largest organ in the body, and drinking water hydrates the cells the skin will have a healthy glow when hydrated. Hydration also plays a role in our focus. Our brain is made up of 70% water and maintaining hydration ensures proper brain function. Lastly, hydration help give you more energy. Often times when you get dehydrated you can experience headaches and feel slugglish.
The last tip to keep in my mind is don’t wait until you feel thirsty to drink water, being thirsty is a sign of dehydration. You are better off staying ahead of dehydration. It is very helpful to drink a glass of water when you first wake up. This stimulates digestion and rehydrates you from the night. When you initially increase your water intake you will feel like you have to use the bathroom constantly, but after about a week thing will level off and you won’t have to as frequently.