Drink Up

Water makes up nearly 60% of your body weight and is vital to every single cell and system in your body.  Water flushes toxins, maintains your body temperature, carries nutrients to cells and protects your spinal cord and other sensitive tissues. 

Most of us drink water every day, but it’s summer and the temperatures are rising – we’re outside with sports, camping, working, gardening and playing - making it vital  to stay properly hydrated.  Lack of water can lead to dehydration and even death.

Staying properly hydrated, especially during the summer months, is essential for your health and well-being.  Mild dehydration is characterized by headaches, sluggishness, decreased urine and sweat output.  If not treated quickly, dehydration can lead to serious complications: swelling in the brain, seizures, kidney failure and in some cases, death. 

In most instances, dehydration can be treated with extra fluids.  In order to stay properly hydrated, the Instituted of Medicine (IOM) recommends men drink roughly three liters every day and women  drink 2.2 liters; while remembering to increase your intake the more you’re exercising or spending long periods in the sun.   

Water is almost always your healthiest drink option.  Several drink options have little to no nutritional benefits.  Sodas, and a lot of juice drinks are primarily sugar.  Sports drinks are good during intense activity but in most cases, water is your best choice:

Research has shown that water speeds up your metabolism, cleans the body of toxins, and has even improved the quality of life for long time sufferers of severe headaches and migraines.  On top of that, water lessens the urge for empty calories, and increases your energy level.