Learn what healthy hydration is, how much water you need, avoiding poor hydration drinks & making a great cheap hydration drink.
What is HEALTHY HYDRATION?
This page ties up the 2 healthy hydration main points made on other pages on this site:
1)Drinking enough water for your personal profile, health profile and lifestyle
2)Drinking the kinds of fluids, chiefly water, that are best for your needs
We also discuss how to hydrate economically and conveniently.
How much water is enough depends on 3 main factors -
1)Personal profile - Especially age and weight
2)Health profile - Quality of health, diet, medication consumption, exposure to toxins
3)Lifestyle - Exercise, where you live, occupation
The following recommendations for quantity of water are MINIMUMS. Ideally, you should drink more water.
1)Personal profile: The 2 most important factors here are age & weight.
Age: Be especially mindful of being hydrated if you are between 1 - 20 years old. Kids & teens are growing and growth leads to constant dehydration. Dehydration during growth phase could lead to permanent damage, physically and intellectually. There are some slightly different requirements depending on phase of development. Click here for details on healthy hydration and pre-adult years.
Seniors: We dehydrate as we get older. It’s somewhat unavoidable. Elderly must make an effort to drink water even when not thirsty. To try to fill the basic requirements of ½ to 2/3 of your body weight in ounces of water per day, seniors should learn to sip throughout the day. Click here for specifics on avoiding poor hydration for elderly.
Weight: Whether you are fat or muscular, the heavier you are the more water your body needs for basic processes. Drink at least ½ of your body weight in ounces of water per day, ideally 2/3 of your body weight in ounces per day. Weigh 150, at least 75 ounces per day, ideally 100 ounces per day.
2)Health profile: How many medications you take , how much processed foods you eat, general exposure to toxins effect how much water you need to drink. If you are taking medications, eating fast foods and are exposed to toxins like pollution, you need more water. Drink at least a glass or 2 more if that describes you.
If you exercise moderately to intensely, you may need electrolyte drinks in addition to water. Here’s a recipe for a good, cheap hydration drink for exercisers : Gatorade Substitute, (great for exercisers) 1 pckg Kool Aid, any flavor; 2 qts water; 1/4 - 1/2 cups sugar (To taste);1/4 - 1/2 tsp sea salt (A must); 1/2 cup orange juice (or another potassium filled juice)
You see how easy it is to go over the recommended 8 glasses of water per day if you are typical.
The right drink Yes, it should be water. But there’s water and then there is water.
Electrolyte drinks, like the Gatorade substitution above, are good for exercisers. If you are out working out for more than 2 hours, get a Gatorade or something similar during & after your workout.
Convenience & economy: Drink when you can. Especially drink upon waking, on an empty stomach. The faucet is right there & your body will readily absorb the water because you lost a a glass or 2 during sleep.
If possible, avoid the expense of bottled waters. What’s more, they are usually no healthier than tap water. Get a filter & bottle your own. Get different sized sports bottles for different occasions. Squeeze some lemon into water for variety , vitamins and detoxification.
Poor hydration
The typical drinks that consumers consume to hydrate are examples of poor hydration drinks & lead to numerous health problems. They just cover up your thirst.
Human bodies are not meant to drink colas, beers and sugary juices. If you must have them, count them as a dessert. Avoid them if you can. Guess what, as you drink more water, you will start to lose your taste for them & start to crave water.
Healthy hydration requires avoidance of most commercial drinks. If you do drink name-brand drinks, make room for water as a chaser or follower.
