How Much Water Do You Need?
Our needs for water vary according to who we are, our activity level, and outside conditions. The old adage of “8 cups a day” may not be true for you. You may need more; you may need less. How do you know?
Well, do you feel thirsty? That’s a sign you should drink more.
Are you constipated? That’s another sign.
Dry skin, nails, hair? Yep. Drink more.
Not losing weight? Though many factors are at work here, perhaps simply drinking more water will help.
You will know best whether or not you’re dehydrated.
If you’re not sure, try drinking more water for a day or two just to see if anything improves — perhaps your mental clarity, your outlook on life, or things
you didn’t really realize were suffering.
What Kind of Water?
Not all water is created equal. Fluoridated, chlorinated municipal water is not a good choice for drinking water. In fact, it could be considered poisonous.
Good water choices are: clean well water; clean and true spring water; or filtered water.
This post will not cover filtering options, but I do need to say that reverse osmosis filtered water has had minerals removed and so re-mineralization is necessary to make it healthful. (In my recipe below, I add liquimins.)
For more information on filtering that removes the bad stuff but not the minerals.
Can You Drink Too Much Water?
You don’t need to guzzle your water in huge quantities. Go ahead and take your first waking hour to drink 3 to 4 cups of water. Because actually, it can be dangerous to drink too much water at once. Here’s what could happen:
“…if you drink too much water, the sodium levels in your blood may drop to dangerously low levels, causing hyponatremia — a condition in which your cells swell with too much water. While most of your body’s cells can handle this swelling, your brain cells cannot, and most of the symptoms are caused by brain swelling. This condition is most common among athletes, although anyone can be affected by drinking excessive amounts of water.” —source: Dr. Mercola
So take your time (but not too much time). Some sources say about a quart an hour is an amount that a normal body can handle well.
Your water can come in the form of plain water, water with flavors or ingredients added, tea, or the water that’s naturally part of foods like fruits, vegetables, and broth. It’s all water your body can use.
Lemonade Water
Did you notice my jar of water in the picture? It’s not plain water, is it? It’s actually my “lemonade water”.
I have a hard time drinking plain water first thing in the morning. Even though we have good, clean well water, it doesn’t taste good to me at that time of day. I can take a sip or two, but I can’t drink a glass without feeling like gagging. (And I’m not normally a picky eater, either.)
So instead, I drink this lemonade water. In addition to the lemon juice, I add raw apple cider vinegar and minerals, plus a bit of liquid stevia to balance the sour. I find it delicious, easy to drink, and very refreshing!
Here’s the recipe:
In a quart size jar (or double this recipe and fill a half gallon jar), combine:
- 2 to 4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (or lime juice)*
- 1 to 3 teaspoons raw apple cider vinegar
- pinch sea salt
- few drops liquimins
- 3 to 4 drops liquid stevia
*I found a jar of organic lemon juice in the refrigerated, organic, produce section of our grocery store. For about $8, it contains the equivalent of the juice from 40 organic lemons — a great deal.
Then fill the jar to the top with good, clean water. These are loose amounts; adjust up or down to suit your tastes. Stainless steel drinking straw is optional.
I often make a quart size jar plus a 1/2 gallon jar at the same time — then I’ve got plenty to drink in the morning and throughout the day. It’s a time saver and ensures that in the busy-ness of the day, my water is already waiting for me.
The jar pictured is a 2-1/2 cup freezer mason jar. It’s nice because it fits in the cup holder of a vehicle.
Your Challenge
If you think you’re dehydrated (or maybe if you aren’t really sure), do this for 30 days make an effort to drink water each morning and throughout the day. Previous Page
Credit:gnowfglins.com
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