Water consumption is something we’ve all learned is vital to every aspect of our health.
If you’re wanting to feel better, have more supple skin, look more radiant, and heck, even stave off a stroke, you don’t need to turn to a fancy supplement. Instead, look closely at your water intake. Beauty aficionados swear by many things, but the one thing that they all have in common is staying hydrated.
Water consumption helps maintain moisture in the skin, it lubricates your joints, and some proponents even say it helps kick up your metabolism. We sometimes eat when we’re actually thirsty, so increasing your water intake can help quell the munchies, too. In fact, just this past week my doctor told me that I could soften and/or correct some of the problems associated with aging just by drinking more water. (And this includes lowering my risk for stroke and blood pressure issues.)
So how much water do we need, and is there a better way to drink it? According to nutritionists, the amount of water consumption is based on your body weight. Divide your weight in half, and that’s how many ounces of water you should drink per day. For instance, if you weigh 140 pounds, you’ll need to aim for 70 ounces of water each day.
But how could we possibly be drinking water incorrectly? For one, you want to drink throughout the day not chug it all at once. Your body needs water throughout the day to maintain proper brain function! In fact, your afternoon slump might be more directly related to your lack of water than your need for caffeine. A general guideline is to drink a half cup of water every hour, based on your need.
In addition, according to Ayurveda, pay close attention to your water consumption throughout the day and also drink it at the right temperature. Our digestive fire depends on what we put into our bodies. That’s why you’ll often see health professionals recommend warm water with lemon at the start of the day. In the morning our digestive fire is slow, and the warm water helps get it going again. And no matter the time of day, drinking ice cold water can extinguish your digestive fires. Instead, aim for room temperature water.
Finally, that big glass of water you’re drinking during dinner? That could be a problem as opposed to an asset. In Ayurveda, again, they say that water can be cooling. So drinking water while eating can actually slow down your digestion. If you’re drinking enough water during the day, you won’t need to guzzle water with your meals.
Simple enough. Are you ready to commit to this health tip in the New Year? Buy a pretty water bottle and figure out how many times you need to fill it each day. Or try these fruit-infused inspirations. And commit to a hydrated body in 2018!
With her love of health and writing, Melissa has written for such publications as Shape, Natural Solutions, Yoga Journal, Self and Pilates Style, and has created recipes and food-oriented stories for such publications as Delicious Living and Cooking Light.
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