It’s estimated the adult human body is composed of approximately 60 percent water, yet most Americans don’t seem to drink enough.
While we’ve all heard the infamous “drink more water” advice from our doctor, many people don’t know how much to drink, or why they should drink it.
And with Americans addicted to sugary drinks, water often gets a backseat to hot items like sweet tea and soda.
But by simply drinking the proper amount of water, your body is set up to function with maximum efficiency.
So just how much water should you drink?
Experts used to recommend each adult drink “8 glasses a day”, but this is dated advice.
And it doesn’t take into account the unique physical makeup and size of each person.
In addition, Freedom Health News previously reported how drinking too much water can actually be a bad thing.
If you’re wondering how much water to drink, U.S. News has s a simple tip — – drink half of your body weight in ounces a day.
So if you weigh 200lbs, you should be drinking 100 ounces of water a day (a little over 12 glasses).
Now that you know how much water to drink, check out all the amazing things drinking the right amount of water does for your body
Weight Loss
No, we’re not saying starve yourself and only consume water.
But if you’re feeling hunger pains – consider if you are actually hungry and try drinking water first.
Often times you’ll discover you’re simply thirsty and drinking water will cure your hunger pains.
And staying hydrated can actually increase your metabolism.
Web MD reports:
“Water’s involved in every type of cellular process in your body, and when you’re dehydrated, they all run less efficiently — and that includes your metabolism. Think of it like your car: if you have enough oil and gas, it will run more efficiently. It’s the same with your body.”
“Your metabolism is basically a series of chemical reactions that take place in your body,” says Trent Nessler, PT, DPT, MPT, managing director of Baptist Sports Medicine in Nashville. “Staying hydrated keeps those chemical reactions moving smoothly.” Being even 1% dehydrated can cause a significant drop in metabolism. “
What a simple fix!
Simply consuming the proper amount of water can help regulate your metabolism which will improve your overall health.
Headache Cure
Dealing with headaches is one of the most crippling experiences ever.
Let’s face it – having a migraine can ruin your day.
And often we are quick to pop pills just to make the pain stop.
Or worse, some of us spend hundreds of dollars at the doctor’s offices running tests trying to discover what’s causing headaches… when truth be told the cause of a headache could be simple dehydration.
Yes, according to Medical News Today, dehydration headaches often mimic migraines and have other symptoms such as dizziness, dry mouth, and dark colored urine.
So if you have a headache, before you jump to pain pills, try drinking more water!
Detox and Keep It Moving
Following the natural course of action, drinking more water will increase urination. This helps keep your kidneys flushed and by staying properly hydrated you can even help prevent kidney stones!
In addition, by getting icky waste out of your body more frequently, you’ll help get toxins out with a quickness.
BrainMDHealth reported:
“Your body fluids transport waste products in and out of your cells, while your kidneys and liver flush those waste products and other toxins out of your body. However, this process can only work properly and efficiently if you are well hydrated. When you are not drinking enough water, you are at an increased risk of developing kidney stones and experiencing urinary tract infections.”
Drinking water does make you use the restroom more – so keep this in mind when going on road trips and plan accordingly.
And make sure your frequent urination isn’t caused by these harmful items.
So now you know how much water you should drink and all the amazing benefits of water – but you may still not be convinced you can manage to track your daily consumption.
Consider purchasing a 64 oz water bottle and depending on your weight, just filling it up twice will meet your goal!
There are even apps which help you track how much water you drink each day.
If you really can’t stand plain water, consider cutting up some fresh lemon and adding it in for an even healthier option.
Find the method that works for you and stick with it – and see how much better you feel!
How much water do you drink each day? Do you think you could drink half your body weight in ounces each day?
Tell us your thoughts in the comments below and be sure to share this article with your friends and family to let them know how water does the body good.
