The Importance Of Proper Water Intake

If asked, “How much water should a person consume during the day?” most would likely respond with “8 glasses of water a day”, right?

Well, here’s another question: “Would an athlete working out and sweating profusely need more water?”. The answer is obviously, “yes.” The point is, everybody has different water consumption requirements.

So, we’ve discussed that everybody needs water and that some people may need more or less water than others… but why?

Think about this for a second…

  • The human body is composed of roughly 60% water.
  • The brain is 75% water.

The 60% is used for

  • Digestion
  • Absorption of nutrients
  • Circulation / transportation of nutrients
  • Regulation body temperature

As you see, regulating water intake is very important for not only fitness but for everyday life.

Did you know, about 75% of all Americans are dehydrated and may not even know it?

What are some common signs of dehydration?

  • Dry mouth
  • Headache
  • Dark colored urine
  • Constipation
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness/ light headedness

How can we combat this?

On average men should drink about 13 cups of water a day.

On average women should drink about 9 cups of water a day.

But, if you are working-out, more fluids are lost through sweat and therefore needs to be replenished.

Working out and water consumption

Here is a trick you can try.

Weigh yourself before and after your workout. And, for every pound lost through water weight you should consume two 8 oz glasses of water.

So, if you weighed in at 150 lbs before your workout and 147 on completion, you’d need to consume 24 oz of water.

Conclusion

With better circulation your blood will more efficiently carry fat cells through the body to be converted into energy and burned. With better digestion you won’t feel constipated and bloated. With proper hydration your ability to transport and absorb proper nutrients will increase, leaving you healthier, energized and satiated from each meal.

With proper water intake, you will aid your body in more efficiently achieving your personal health and wellness goals.

And that, is Fitness By Design...