How Much Water Do I really Need Each Day & WHY?
- thefitbusiness
- Mar 18, 2014
- 2 min read
We all know that water is essential to life. every system in the body depends on it to function. depending on a person’s age and amount of muscle, water makes up between 60 to 75 percent of the body. water is also responsible for a healthy spine, since the spinal discs are more than 70 percent water! as we age, the disks dry out, which leads to back pain and nerve degeneration. when your fascia is dehydrated it becomes tight ,inflamed ,and develops micro-tears. attempting to stretch dehydrated fascia and muscles will not benefit you. Before starting a serious stretching routine, spend the next 2-3 days getting your muscles hydrated. different sources will recommend different amounts of water intake for individuals. some say to drink only when you’re thirsty and some say drink a gallon a day! I use the food and nutrition board of the institute of medicine. I have posted my own guidelines below based on years of observation:
DRINK 1/2 YOUR BODY WEIGHT IN OUNCES OF WATER PER DAY
the above will make you well hydrated without running any chances of drinking too much water. generally it takes about 6 weeks to become fully hydrated. to expedite the process I recommend using trace minerals in the water.
What kind of water? Avoid straight from the tap water. it is very impure, full of lead, fluoride, chlorine, and other harsh chemicals. lead causes a range of health problems in adults or children, chlorine is linked to heart disease, and fluoride is a carcinogenic just to name a few…2 great alternatives are bottled water or filtered water. bottled water creates a lot of trash and it is expensive. some filters such is brita to pur are better than nothing although they do not take care of every problem in the water. 1 of the best systems on the market is the akai Ionizer plus water purifier. it filters the chemicals and bacteria, treats the water with ultraviolet light, and Ionizes it. this system is top of the line and not cheap but there are plenty of in between options.
How to hydrate? Begin by drinking an 8 ounce cup of water 3x a day before each meal. increase to 16 ounces before each meal as soon as you can. drink your water on empty stomach. finish your water 15 minutes before you eat. this way the water goes right into the muscles and does not interfere with digestion. after a meal wait 2 hours before drinking water again. it is preferred to not drink at all during your meal. combining food with liquid dilutes the stomach enzymes, which means you do not digest your food properly… it is definitely okay to have a few sips of water during your meal to help with mastication.that is all I have on hydration. good luck and get hydrated!
- Jess Williams NASM CPT CES PES
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