Water and Exercise: Stay Hydrated!

Our bodies are made up of over 75% water. We all know that without water, there is no life. In fact we can only live 3 days without it. However, water has been replaced in most diets by soft drinks and other sugar sweetened refreshments. However, water is a healthier and more necessary drink that leads to better health and longetivity. Your personal need for water can vary due to exercise, temperature and weight. Studies have shown that over 2/3's of adults do not get enough water on a daily basis. By simply drinking water regularly you can replenish your body and keep it well-hydrated and functioning at maximum efficiency. Most of us wait until we are thirsty to drink water. However, this is not a reliable gauge of the water needs that our body has. By the time we are thirsty we have already lost two or more cups of our body's composition of water. Therefore drinking water regularly is a much better answer than waiting until one is thirsty. It is also very important to not substitute beverages with alcohol and caffeine for water. The reason for this is that these beverages act as a diuretic and cause you to lose more water through increased urination. You think you are getting water through these beverages but the fact is they are causing you to let it go almost as quickly as it accumulates. When you work out you need more water. This makes elementary sense. Our bodies lose a great deal of water due to perspiration. In fact we need to drink 2 cups of water for each pound lost through working out. Even when we sleep our bodies lose water. Drinking a glass of water before we go to sleep and when we wake up helps to offset this loss and keep our bodies functioning optimally. It should be obvious that when we are sick our bodies need more water than at other times. When we have a cold or flu our bodies can become dehydrated. You can prevent this by drinking more water at times you are sick. There are numerous opinions on whether purified water actually provides a tangible benefit. It is a subject you should explore yourself in determining the type of water that is appropriate for you. The same applies to exactly how much is enough? Below you will find some articles dealing with this subject. The best way to find out what you need is to simply set a goal to drink a certain number of glasses and then after a week or two see how it has effected you. Make it a habit to drink water daily. Keep a bottle with you at all times and drink it throughout the day. Learn to drink water rather than other beverages that do not replenish your body's nutrients. Drink water daily and watch yourself become healthier and happier.