It seems to be general knowledge that drinking more water is good for you, but why? And how much? And what if I don’t really like water? Well here is some drink for thought.
Any time we have waste to get rid of, we use the bathroom. Every cell in our body has a similar mechanism: cell has waste --> the waste gets shuttled outside the membrane.
Instead of a toilet, the cells have a gel-like fluid, called an extracellular matrix (ECM), for waste to be deposited. The ECM is more than just a bathroom for cells. It’s also a kitchen, drinking fountain, telephone, and office space. The cells rely on the ECM for nutrients, waste removal, and intercellular communication, so it’s important to keep our ECM in tip top shape.
Drinking enough water can help because it keeps fluid moving and get waste out. Another way to think about it is this: since our cells aren’t potty trained would you rather have them living in a swimming pool or a stream? Probably a stream!
There are some medical conditions where drinking lots of fluids can be harmful, so defer to your doctor’s advice if you have one of these conditions. For most people however, a general recommendation is to drink half your weight in ounces of water. Find your goal amount below:
Here are a few ways to make this goal more attainable.
Start your day by drinking 16 ounces of water first thing in the morning. This has also been shown to improve skin health and give skin a healthy glow.
Carry a water container with you with a known volume. Do the math and aim to drink a full container a certain number of times.
Drink water at whatever temperature you like. Water doesn’t have to be cold, and in fact, room temperature and hot water and better for digestion.
If you truly don’t like the taste of water, try adding a squeeze of lemon or add a few pieces of fruit, cucumber, or mint leaves to your water. Avoid added flavorings or sweeteners as these contain harsh chemicals and are less nutritive.
Drink water away from meals. Leave 20 minutes before and after meals to be mostly dry. Drinking with meals dilutes the digestive juices and can inhibit digestion.
Drink more water if you drink caffeine. For every cup of caffeinated drink, drink 2 extra cups of water.
Most people don’t need to drink more than 120 ounces of water, no matter their weight or caffeine consumption. However, if you sweat a lot or live in a hot environment, you may need more.
Enjoy earth's nectar!