Experts say that a vibrant healthy body is 55 to 65% water. But most of us are nowhere near that level. In fact, there’s a good chance we’re chronically underhydrated, which can lead to fatigue, headaches, moodiness, overeating, and looking like Joan Rivers. What if we’re reaching for pills and products to alleviate some problems that could be easily fixed by the faucet? If you’re ready to join us in boosting water intake, check out this roundup of what we found most useful (and even surprising).
Two rules to forget: First, thirst isn’t a reliable alert system. By the time you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. Second, you’ve probably heard the adage “drink eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid daily.” This is a generalization with no scientific basis. How can a 120-pound woman and a 220-pound man have the same fluid requirements? They can’t.
The formula to use: To figure out how much fluid your body really needs, weigh yourself without clothes in the morning, then divide that number by two. This is approximately how many ounces you should be drinking daily to refill what’s naturally lost through breathing, perspiring, and peeing. If you exercise regularly, then you’ll also need to weigh yourself before and after working out. For every pound lost, drink an additional 16 ounces of fluid.
What counts, what doesn’t: You don’t have to drink water all the time. Coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks, juice, and even soup all count as fluid. Of course, not all these are equal when it comes to calories, so it’s best to stay with no-cal or low-cal choices most of the time. And new research is finding that caffeine is not as much of a diuretic as previously believed. So don’t worry that your morning cup of coffee or evening tea is further dehydrating you. As long as your caffeine use isn’t excessive (more than 300 milligrams – about 3 cups of coffee), you’re okay.
Be your own lab rat: If you’re skeptical that merely drinking more water will make you look and feel better, don’t take our word for it. Experiment for a week. Many women report some interesting effects. For instance, their skin is less wrinkled. Their breath is sweeter. They’re less tired and more alert. And perhaps most intriguing, they eat less. Nutritionists explain that people often confuse their thirst and appetite sensations. So the next time you feel like snacking, drink a glass of water instead and see if the urge to eat doesn’t disappear.
If you like the results, expand the experiment to your family. But they don’t have to know it. Just make water more available by putting a pitcher in the fridge and glasses on the dinner table. And make it look every bit as appetizing as those brightly colored fruit drinks by dropping in some slices of citrus or using your best glassware. Then toast to better health!
Decadent (yet smart!) desserts
