We never know the worth of water till the well is dry. - Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732
Compare how much water you drink to how much of other beverages you drink. Now compare how much water Americans drink to how much coffee Americans drink per day. Which one is more? If you guessed the coffee, you're right. In fact, the amount of coffee that Americans drink daily is the same amount of water pouring over Niagara Falls every thirty seconds (33 million gallons)! So why aren't we drinking more water? For that matter, why drink water?
Second only to oxygen, what the body needs most is water. About two thirds of our body is water, the brain is 85% water, and even 22% of our bones are water. That's why it is so important to drink enough of this liquid. Water helps with digesting food, transporting nutrients to cells, and regulating body temperature. Water lubricates joints and provides a cushion for tissues and organs. The body needs plenty of H2O to keep it running smoothly
Other than keeping you alive, drinking water has tons of different benefits. Water can rehydrate your skin and give you a glowing complexion. Drinking water can flush out toxins from the kidneys. Research has shown that people who drink more water are less likely to die from a heart attack. Did you know that hunger sensations and thirst sensations are triggered together? So if you think you're hungry, try a glass of water instead. It could help you lose weight!
So what happens when we don't have enough water? It's called mild dehydration. Dehydration is when the amount of water leaving the body is more than the amount entering. Some symptoms of mild dehydration are: headaches, lightheadedness, dry mouth, lower muscle strength, slow problem solving, and fatigue. These symptoms can be caused from loss of less than 5% of your body weight in fluid, and losing 15-20 percent can be fatal!
Just because you aren't thirsty doesn't mean you aren't dehydrated. In fact, the thirst mechanism doesn't start sending "thirsty signals" to your brain until you have lost 5% of body weight, which is when the above symptoms kick in.
Use these tips to stay hydrated:
1. Drink 8 cups of water a day. Another formula you could use is to divide your weight in half and drink that much water in ounces. Say you weighed 100 pounds. Divided in half, that's 50 ounces.
2. Carry around a water bottle. A good idea is to buy a insulated water bottle that you can carry around all day, everyday.
3. Choose water over punch and soda. Really. Water is healthy, has no calories, and the best part is that it's free.
4. Keep a glass of water by your bed. That way, if you get thirsty in the middle of the night, you have some water nearby.
5. If you see a water fountain, it's probably time to take another drink. Make a habit of taking a sip of water every time you pass a water fountain.
Now here is an interview with some Whyvillians:
singel12: What is your favorite drink?
mylo9810: Probably water or Dr. Pepper.
NewAcc5: I love SoBe.
kandy334: My favorite drink is Coca-Cola Classic.
mrtucan0: Monster.
HarlyQ: Cold green tea.
MsPacman1: Shirley Temple.
singel12: How much water do you drink a day?
mylo9810: To be honest, all I ever really drink is water. So I don't know. Whenever I get thirsty? It depends if I was active and outside all day or inside all day and being lazy. But, on average, most likely six average-sized cups of water a day.
NewAcc5: About 4 glasses.
kandy334: I drink about 5-12 cups of water a day.
mrtucan0: Like a bottle or two.
HarlyQ: 8 cups, I think. I usually have 4 glasses or bottles a day.
MsPacman1: One glass.
singel12: When do you grab a drink of water?
mylo9810: When I'm thirsty, of course! But usually if I was outside in the hot sun or playing sports is when I get really thirsty; and it's the most hot in the afternoon, so usually afternoon and then at dinner time and sometimes in the morning. But it all just depends, you know?
NewAcc5: After I exercise.
kandy334: I usually grab a drink after school, I walk home. During meals, and before bed.
mrtucan0: Random times through out the day.
HarlyQ: I almost always have some kind of drink with me.
MsPacman1: When I'm studying, or when I come inside after riding my bike.
I hope you learned a bit about water. This is singel12, saying goodbye and please stay hydrated!
~singel12
Author's Note: Sources: http://www.kraft.com.au/HealthyLiving/BalancedNutrition/NutritionBasics/Water
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifehack/10-reasons-to-drink-more-water.html
http://sportsandcooking.com/health/7-health-benefits-of-drinking-water
http://www.wordoftruthradio.com/health/water/
