Quote:I'm just not a drinker-type.

Quote:Originally posted by OB1
Why nine and a half months?

Quote:Originally posted by OB1
Well all drinks are water with something added to them. But any doctor will tell you that it's important to drink seven glasses of plain water every day. Don't ask me why, I'm not a doctor.

Quote:Too Much Water?

Q: I hear about the health benefits of drinking water, but is there such a thing as drinking too much water? I drink approximately 96 ounces a day, and I’m afraid I may be “washing away” essential vitamins and minerals. I exercise daily and have a small build.

A: Drinking 3 quarts of water daily won’t harm you, but you may find the frequent trips to the bathroom an inconvenience.

Assuming you are drinking your fluids throughout the day there's no worry about "washing away" vitamins, minerals or any other substances, since your kidneys do a great job of holding on to what the body needs. Also, any excess water not needed is easily passed out as urine within a few hours.

You only run a risk with too much water if you guzzle an excessive amount, such as your 96 ounces, all at once. This could cause a very rare event called water intoxication and can be life threatening if not treated. An overdose of water overwhelms the body's cells, in part by diluting the electrolytes, sodium and potassium. This causes the cells to balloon up and disrupt normal body functioning. In the brain, swelling occurs, causing disorientation and even death.

But, unlike you, most people are more likely to fall short on meeting their water needs. They don't realize water is top on the list of essential nutrients. Water makes up most of your body composition (an average 150-pound person contains 42 quarts of water); it's the medium in which chemical reactions occur in your body; it's a lubricant for muscles and joints; and it serves as a vehicle to rid your body of unwanted metabolites and wastes through urine.

You need about 1 milliliter of water for every calorie you consume. Translated to cups, you require about 8 cups (2 quarts) if you consume 2,000 calories a day. This figure rises if you exercise heavily, since you'll lose water through sweat. Depending upon your sweat rate, you lose anywhere from 1 to 2 quarts of sweat an hour, especially in warm weather.

Not counting beer, other alcoholic beverages, and coffee and sodas with caffeine, all of which boost urine production and fluid loss, you should be reaching for 2 to 4 quarts of water and other fluids throughout the day. Your urine color, which serves as a good gauge of your hydration status, should be pale yellow. Dark urine suggests you are not drinking enough fluid. (Your urine will be a bright yellow color after taking a vitamin pill due to the excretion of the B vitamin called riboflavin.)

Keep fluid handy by taking along a bike bottle of water while traveling, at work and during workouts. And to keep your drinking water safe from bacteria contamination, wash out your water bottle daily.



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Quote:How much water should I drink per day?

By Elizabeth Somer, MA,RD
Ask A Question

Q:How much water should I drink on an average day?


[/u]At least eight eight-ounce glasses of water a day for all adults[/u], most of whom lose about two to three quarts of water every day. Athletes, people who live or work in hot environments, and people who perspire heavily lose more water and need to drink even more to keep up with the loss.

Drinking fluids helps to maintain your body, which is primarily made up of water. By weight, men are about 60% water and women are about 55% water.

[/u]Yet many people are walking around mildly dehydrated simply because thirst is a poor indicator of fluid needs, especially as they age. [/u]Mild dehydration can decrease one's energy level and mental functioning and increase stress on the body.

The three rules of thumb when it comes to water are:

Drink twice as much as it takes to quench your thirst.
Drink frequently throughout the day to prevent dehydration.
Drink at least eight glasses daily or one cup for every 20 pounds of body weight. For example, a 150-pound person who does not exercise or work in hot climates needs 7.5 cups.
You can count fruit juices and bottled water in your tally. However, beverages such as coffee or alcohol have a mild diuretic effect, which promotes urination and therefore water loss. Green tea is another way to add fluids, and this beverage is chock-full of phytonutrients that may help lower your risk of developing cancer.

One way to ensure you have those eight glasses each day is to fill a pitcher with your allotment of water and keep it on your desk at work or on the kitchen table at home. You also can fill eight glasses and place them in a convenient spot out of the way, such as on the kitchen counter or dining room table. Your goal is then clearly marked, and that goal is reached when the pitcher or glasses are empty.

If you are a student, make it a point to take 10 large gulps of water every time you pass a water fountain at school. The best indicator that you're drinking enough water is when your urine is pale yellow to clear. A dark yellow color is a sign your body is dehydrated and is concentrating the urine in an effort to conserve water.

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