How Much Water do We Need | How Water Affects our Health Record

We’ve all heard that our bodies are made up of 60% water and it is important to drink water. But how does it truly affect the status of your health record? If you are at the age where doctor visits are increasing then it is possible you have not been getting enough water for a long time. If you are looking to get healthier then you need to keep reading. It may be shocking just how much water affects our health status.

I wanted to write about water today to try and motivate myself to drink more. I hate water. I’d much rather drink anything else but water. It was through this research that I discovered that my body has been conditioned to not like the taste of unsweetened fluids.

When you really sit and think about this it is not only sad but very true. Processed foods and beverages have conditioned our bodies to respond to want more highly processed and artificially sweetened foods. This is one reason why it is so hard for today’s youth and adults to get healthy.

During the early stages of my healthy living journey, I kept hearing that I must drink water to lose weight. I also knew from gym class that water was important during exercise. However, I didn’t really comprehend how much water directly related to someone’s health record. As I dug deeper into the research I discovered that many of the ailments that people have are due to long-term dehydration.

Our Body Needs Water to Function

Here are some of the reasons our body desperately needs us to feed it water:

Skin is 64% water and our primary barrier to the outside elements we endure every day. If we don’t maintain the water it needs when it’s protective nature is compromised. I don’t know about you, but I’m too old for acne and like to believe that I’m too young for wrinkles!
Kidneys need water to flush the toxins out. Not enough water may increase the chance of kidney stones. (Research source)
Blood is 90% water and will thicken with dehydration causing high blood pressure. (Research source)
The liver cleanses the blood and is worked harder when the blood is thicker. (Research source)
The digestive system needs water to flush properly, reduce constipation, and prevent higher levels of stomach acid leading to heartburn and stomach ulcers. (Research source)
Cartilage is 80% water, long-term dehydration can cause joint pain. (Research source)
Allergy and Asthma symptoms can worsen with dehydration. There are studies that have shown that when the respiratory mucous membrane becomes dry, this increases the production of histamine. (Research source)
Brain function is altered causing: mood changes, lack of concentration, memory issues, anxiety, fatigue, headaches, and body temperature control. What does this mean? When you do start going to the gym then lack of water will affect your workout. It will mentally and physically be harder to complete the workout. (Research source)
Metabolism is a series of chemical reactions and needs water to allow those chemical reactions to work smoothly. Even 1% dehydration can drop the metabolism rate significantly. (Research source)

How Much Water Do I Need?

Personally, I’m always hesitant to believe a set requirement is good for everyone. I’ve heard for years that eight 8 ounce glasses of water is what everyone needs a day. I found this hard to believe. What about a short petite woman versus a tall male bodybuilder? What about the person living in a colder climate versus someone from a warmer climate?

Trent Nessler, PT, DPT, MPT, managing director of Baptist Sports Medicine in Nashville advises that we need to adjust the water based upon individual needs. Yes!

In order for our metabolism and digestive system to work properly, we should be drinking from 1/2 ounce to 1 ounce for each pound we weigh. If we live in a hot climate and work out we will need to drink the higher range. If we are moderately active and live in a colder climate then we may be able to drink 1/2 ounce per pound we weigh.

Other Sources of Water

Wait! Do we need to drink a minimum of 1/2 of our body weight in ounces?! That is A LOT of water!

Remember when I told you that I hate water!

Well, thankfully we can get water from other sources than the water tap.

There are other ways to get water than just adding lemons, cucumber, or berries to the water. There are foods that are high in water content that will contribute to your water intake. Here is a list of the foods that are higher than 90% water:

Cucumber is 96.7% water
Iceberg Lettuce is 95.6% water
Celery is 95.4% water
Radishes are 95.3% water
Tomatoes are 94.5% water
Green Peppers are 93.9% water
Cauliflower is 92.1% water
Other Bell Peppers are 92% water
Watermelon is 91.5% water
Spinach is 91.4% water
Star Fruit is 91.4% water
Strawberries are 91% water
Broccoli is 90.7% water
Grapefruit is 90.5% water
Carrots are 90.4% water
Cantaloupe is 90.2% water

Are you Getting Enough Water?

There are many signs of dehydration including taking notice if we are thirsty, have a dry mouth, check skin hydration, and even if we “feel” hungry. Any of these signs mean we need more water, however, the best way to check for dehydration is in the morning with a pee test.

It’s very scientific so have a seat. Ready?

Check the color

Lemonade is good

Apple juice is bad

Did you pass?

I was only expecting to give myself a small reason to drink more water. I wasn’t expecting to ignite an urgency to use water to change my health record.

Since hitting 40 I’ve had more doctor’s appointments than I care to admit. Getting old sucks! Getting old when you haven’t taken care of the one body we were given, sucks even more! I’m tired of medication, and the gut health issues that result.

I want to take control of my health again, and if the water is a big step to doing that then I’ll find a way to like it. After all, I want to not just see grandchildren one day, I want to enjoy them. Play with them.

The science is clear that water affects our health. The simple fact about water is that our body needs it to function properly. It is also clear that many of the ailments that we take medication for are linked to prolonged dehydration.

The best way to start living a healthy life is by giving our body the water it needs to help prevent these ailments. How much water we need depends on our individual situations. Remember to start with 1/2 of your body weight and then increase if needed. Are you getting enough water?