Drink More Water

“A man of wisdom delights in water.” ― Confucius

Surprise! It’s another article about staying hydrated. Victoria Stankus wrote a fantastic one just a few weeks ago, but we here at Wealthy Way know how important this topic is, so we wrote another one just for you!

When was the last time you drank water—and not just a sip or two, but a full bottle? I asked this same question to everyone I talked to today and their answers were all similar to: “Hmm. It’s been a while. I should probably drink some more.”

Is this your answer, too? If it is, then you’re right; you should drink some more water. If you don’t drink enough water, you get dehydrated. The CDC says so.

“Drinking water can prevent dehydration, a condition that can cause unclear thinking, result in mood change, cause your body to overheat, and lead to constipation and kidney stones.” (Water and Healthier Drinks)

“Every day you lose water through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. For your body to function properly, you must replenish its water supply by consuming beverages and foods that contain water.” (How Much Water Do You Need to Stay Healthy?)

Please take a moment now to focus on your head. Do you have a slight pulsing pressure behind your eyes or at the base of your skull? How about your lips? Are they chapped? Are your thoughts a bit muddled, or are you particularly inclined to be irritated as you read this?

There is a cure. Drink more water!

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this sentence. My father has said it to me throughout my life whenever I’ve complained to him about unpleasant symptoms. Headache? Drink more water. Flu? Drink more water. Pulled muscle? Drink more water.

I even caught him off guard once and said, “I’ve just been feeling awful lately, like I’m drowning.” His answer was the same: Drink more water. It wasn’t until I was older and taking a medical class when I realized how wise his advice really is, which is why I am sharing it with you today.

How much water should you be drinking each day? This depends on how physically active you are, where you live, what you’ve eaten and lots of other things. Here’s one of dozens of charts for optimal water intake to give you a better idea of how you’re doing:

The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is:

·         About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day for men

·         About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women

This includes water consumed in other drinks and foods. (How Much Water Do You Need to Stay Healthy?) You can expect about 20% of your daily fluid intake to come from water that’s in food. (Fenneld)

Can you drink too much water? Yes, it’s called hyponatremia, but it only happens if you take in too much water during a very short period of time. “This condition can be quite serious but it is extremely rare,” says Dr. Sukol. “It’s pretty unusual that anyone would drink so much water that they would actually hurt themselves.” (Fenneld) So, don’t be afraid that you’re drinking too much.

Your next bottle of water doesn’t need to only refresh you physically. In fact, taking a water break can be a code you use to enjoy several seconds of peace.

As you drink your next bottle of water, take a slow breath beforehand. Note how your body feels, the little aches or strains. Take a second breath and consider your emotional and mental states. Are you irked or overwhelmed? Flustered, scattered, or weary? Then drink your bottle slowly. Imagine that the aches and strains wash away with each swallow. Picture the clutter and fog in your mind being cleaned out by rain.

Take a few slow breaths after your bottle is empty, and refill it for later. Sneak a quick bathroom break too, if you can. At this point you can congratulate yourself for nourishing not only your body, but your spirit as well. Your focus will realign, your mood improve, and your kidneys will thank you.

Drink more water. It fixes everything but drowning.

Drink more water!

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Sources

Fenneld. “How Much Water Should You Drink a Day?” Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, 15 Mar. 2022, https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-much-water-do-you-need-daily/.

“How Much Water Do You Need to Stay Healthy?” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 14 Oct. 2020, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256.

“Water and Healthier Drinks.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 Mar. 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating/water-and-healthier-drinks.html. 

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