Water Is Essential To Our Overall Health.

Human beings can only live a few days without water.

Water, therefore, is essential to our overall health.

Despite this fact, health professionals and current research have yet to determine how much water to drink, the best times to drink it, and how often we should drink it.

The popular recommendation is about 8 glasses of water (64 ounces or about 1.8 liters) a day for the “average” adult.

But what about living climates, diet, lifestyle, age, physical condition, or exercise habits that vary person to person?

Like nutrition facts or percent daily values, research has attempted to create this standard quantity of water that can represent what each individual needs on a daily basis, but there is no single number that can encompass the variety of genetics and lifestyles we all have.

This makes it difficult for us all to understand the importance of drinking water daily – but it’s no excuse to reach for the soda instead.

Even when we are thirsty, though it’s a biological mechanism, we often misinterpret the feeling for sugar cravings or hunger.

Drinking sugary drinks, alcohol, caffeine, and even milk when we are thirsty can be detrimental to our kidneys and further exhaust and dehydrate our bodies.

Because we usually do not have water within reach at all times, obtaining water must be a conscious action!

The benefits of drinking water are well worth making it a part of your daily routine.

• Drinking cold water can increase your body’s Resting Energy Expenditure (REE) – your amount of calories burned while in non-active conditions (i.e. sitting, standing, laying, low-stress, etc.) - for about 60 minutes!
  
  
• Drinking water helps reduce instances of constipation and may help promote bowel movement – it can ease constipation if you are dehydrated

• Drinking 16 - 50 oz of water 30 minutes before eating main meals may help obese adults lose weight
  
  
• Drinking 10-16 oz of water can help symptoms of “dizziness” when standing up (orthostatic or postural hypotension)
  
  
• Drinking water while in a hot climate or during intense exercise can help the body adapt to the warm conditions faster
  
  
• Drinking adequate amounts of water daily can improve the elasticity, thickness, and hydration of your skin
  
  

Clean, fresh water can make a big difference in taste and biological value.

In order to keep chemicals and other harmful substances from getting into your water, store it in glass or stainless steel containers. 

Consider a quality water filter for your sink at home to keep out chlorine and other chemicals without contributing to plastic waste from pre-bottled water.

And if you're always on the go, and can only get chlorinated tap water, adding the delicious Optimal Vitamin C Plus can help to neutralize the chlorine and improve the taste!

But how  much water should you drink and how  often?

This is not a simple answer, and as research has suggested, this will vary depending on many lifestyle and biological factors.

It is important to pay attention to your body’s thirst mechanism, with the full intent of drinking water regularly.

Cheers to pure, clean hydration!

If you are curious about what we have for hydration support, more information on our best selling supplement, Optimal Electrolyte, can be found here. 

Dr. Ben Lynch loves it so much he did a whole Facebook live about it! Want to watch it? 
Click here to watch it!

References:
•Popkin, Barry M., Kristen E. D’Anci, and Irwin H. Rosenberg. “Water, Hydration and Health.” Nutrition reviews 68.8 (2010): 439–458.  PMC. Web. 11 Mar. 2016.
•Hydration and physical performance. Murray B J Am Coll Nutr. 2007 Oct; 26(5 Suppl):542S-548S.
•Nicolaidis S. Physiology of thirst. In: Arnaud MJ, editor. Hydration Throughout Life.Montrouge: John Libbey Eurotext; 1998. p. 247.
•Voluntary dehydration and cognitive performance in trained college athletes. D'anci KE, Vibhakar A, Kanter JH, Mahoney CR, Taylor HA Percept Mot Skills. 2009 Aug; 109(1):251-69.
•Shirreffs SM, Merson SJ, Fraser SM, Archer DT. The effects of fluid restriction on hydration status and subjective feelings in man. Br J Nutr. 2004;91:951–958. 
•Helen M. Parretti, Paul Aveyard, Andrew Blannin, Susan J. Clifford, Sarah J. Coleman, Andrea Roalfe, Amanda J. Daley. Efficacy of water preloading before main meals as a strategy for weight loss in primary care patients with obesity: RCT. Obesity, 2015; DOI: 10.1002/oby.21167
•Vij VAK, Joshi AS. Effect of excessive water intake on body weight, body mass index, body fat, and appetite of overweight female participants. Journal of Natural Science, Biology, and Medicine. 2014;5(2):340-344. doi:10.4103/0976-9668.136180.
•Pre-meal water consumption reduces meal energy intake in older but not younger subjects.Van Walleghen EL1, Orr JS, Gentile CL, Davy BM. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2007 Jan;15(1):93-9.
•Effect of fluid intake on skin physiology: distinct differences between drinking mineral water and tap water.Williams S, Krueger N, Davids M, Kraus D, Kerscher M Int J Cosmet Sci. 2007 Apr; 29(2):131-8.
•Assessment of effects of an additional dietary natural mineral water uptake on skin hydration in healthy subjects by dynamic barrier function measurements and clinic scoring. Mac-Mary S, Creidi P, Marsaut D, Courderot-Masuyer C, Cochet V, Gharbi T, Guidicelli-Arranz D, Tondu F, Humbert PSkin Res Technol. 2006 Aug; 12(3):199-205.