Our bodies are comprised of up to 60% water and our brains are made up of approximately 70% water. Drinking plenty of water is important for keeping our bodies and minds healthy and working well.
It’s Easier Than You Think to Get Dehydrated
Losing only 2% of our water causes us to become dehydrated. If we lose even this small amount we are not able to perform as well. It doesn’t take much to lose 2% of water. It can happen to an athlete who’s competing, to someone who’s in bed with the flu, a person outside in very hot weather, or even to someone who just doesn’t drink enough water.
Your thirst sensation runs quite a bit slower than your body’s need for water. By the time you realize that you’re feeling thirsty, your body will already be dehydrated. Most experts suggest that you drink before you get thirsty. If you’re exercising — drink water before, during, and after.
If you are dehydrated…
- Your brain won’t work properly – you’ll be groggy, slow, and feel out of it.
- Headaches may occur or worsen.
- You’ll lose muscle tone.
- You may feel overheated, or you may feel cold and unable to get warm.
- You’ll get constipated.
- You’ll think you’re hungry all the time, so you’ll likely eat more.
- Your skin will get dry, itchy, and saggy.
How much water should we drink?
It is commonly recommended that we drink between 8 and 12 eight-ounce glasses of water a day. If you’re thinking, “That’s a LOT of water,” you’re right! But that’s only part of the story…
We need to drink even more water when:
- Exercising.
- The weather is warm.
- Spending most of the time indoors, where there’s little fresh air.
- You are sick.
- Drinking beverages with caffeine (coffee, tea, soda). These drinks do not help you meet your water requirements; in fact, they make you lose more water. If you drink caffeinated beverages, you should increase your daily water intake.