How To Drink More Water Every Day

by **JAHANGEER** 21st May 2010, 2:38 pm

How To Drink More
Water Every Day

How To Drink More Water Every Day DRINK-MORE-WATER

Water is the
most needed chemical compound of our body. Without the daily necessary
amount of water our body functions would be forced to shut down. The
human body is anywhere from 55% to 78% water depending on body size. To
function properly, the body requires between one and seven liters of
water per day to avoid dehydration; the precise amount depends on the
level of activity, temperature, humidity, and other factors. Most of
this is ingested through foods or beverages other than drinking straight
water. It is not clear how much water intake is needed by healthy
people, though most advocates agree that 6–7 glasses of water
(approximately 2 litres) daily is the minimum to maintain proper
hydration. Medical literature favors a lower consumption, typically 1
liter of water for an average male, excluding extra requirements due to
fluid loss from exercise or warm weather. For those who have healthy
kidneys, it is rather difficult to drink too much water, but (especially
in warm humid weather and while exercising) it is dangerous to drink
too little. People can drink far more water than necessary while
exercising, however, putting them at risk of water intoxication
(hyperhydration), which can be fatal. The "fact" that a person should
consume eight glasses of water per day cannot be traced back to a
scientific source. There are other myths such as the effect of water on
weight loss and constipation that have been dispelled.
Determine
how much water you need. You've probably heard the "8 by 8" rule -
drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day (2 quarts, 1.8 liters) -
but the amount of water a person needs varies depending on his or her
weight and activity level. Another way to determine your specific
recommended water intake is to divide your weight (in pounds) by two.
The resulting number is the number of ounces of water you need each day.
For example, if you weigh 150 lbs., strive to drink 75 ounces of water
daily. For those who use the Metric system, divide your weight (in
kilograms) by 30 (ex. somebody weighing 70 kg is going to need 2.3
liters per day). Keep in mind that these recommended intake numbers are
controversial and some experts believe they are a gross exaggeration.
See "warnings" below for more information.
Signs of
Dehydration. You lose water through urination, respiration, and by
sweating. If you are very active, you lose more water than if you are
sedentary. Diuretics such as caffeine pills and alcohol result in the
need to drink more water because they trick your body into thinking you
have more water than we need. Symptoms of mild dehydration include
chronic pains in joints and muscles,lower back pain, headaches and
constipation. A strong odor to your urine, along with a yellow or amber
color indicates that you may not be getting enough water. Note that
riboflavin, a B Vitamin, will make your urine bright yellow. Thirst is
an obvious sign of dehydration and in fact, you need water long before
you feel thirsty.
Dangers of Too Much Water. Don't
start drinking an extra gallon of water a day - that can kill you,
especially if you are fasting or eating very little. Water taken in must
be in balance with body salt - electrolytes. The body needs to maintain
salt balance or risk hyponatremia with heart attack and even death.
Drinking too much water dilutes the salt in your blood and tissues - and
can kill you. Healthy athletes have died from drinking too much plain
water and not replacing salt. Dieters should not plunge into drinking
gallons of water a day in hopes of burning a few more calories. Drink an
extra few glasses, yes. But a gallon is too much.