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Going through college I loved my nutrition classes. I was an animal science major and went on to get my masters degree in cattle nutrition, I loved the nutrition focus so much. Those classes were the first time I was exposed to the importance of good nutrition. The saying I heard over and over was “prevention is the best medicine.” My veterinarian friends favorite saying was they “fixed what the nutritionist screwed up.”
The most interesting thing to me is that the most important nutrient is the same across all species, humans included.
Water.
Yep, that simple thing of water. Without water your body can do nothing. Keeping your body hydrated is critical to keeping you healthy and your body functioning at optimum. Over half your body weight is actually water!
Water helps to keep the gut moving and regular. It is necessary to make saliva, reducing the bacteria in your mouth, thus decreasing the bad breath. It is needed to keep cells hydrated and plump, helping with the healthy appearance of the skin. Water helps keep the.blood volume up, so your oxygen is delivered more effectively to the tissues that need it, like muscles. For your body to flush toxins out, water is needed. Water is a pretty big deal!
What happens when you don’t drink enough water? Even before you are technically dehydrated, you may notice some things from not drinking enough water. If you are not drinking enough water you may notice constipation, persistent bad breath, fatigue, frequently ill, poor skin health, sugar cravings, and decreased urination. When you are dehydrated your body can not easily access the glucose stores in your body, which triggers the cravings for the sugar. You may experience a slight headache, lack of focus, or mood change, when slightly dehydrated. Those dark bags under your eyes is not just from lack of sleep, but more lack of water too.
How much water should you drink? The Mayo Clinic recommends 2.7 liters for women and 3.7 liters for men a day. This can change based on weight and size. A good rule of thumb is an ounce of water for every pound you weigh. So if you weigh 130 pounds your goal fluid intake should be 130 oz, which is close to one gallon (128oz). If you feel thirsty or hungry try drinking some water.
But I don’t like the taste of water. How will I ever drink that much water? I love to add lemon or lime to my water, especially if I’m traveling. I am a very picky water drinker and often don’t like the taste of water away from home. A drop of lemon essential oil (a great detox helper too) and I’m good for a couple fill ups through my tumbler.
I can’t keep track of my list, how am I ever going to keep track of my water intake? I love to use my 30 oz tumbler. I fill it 4 times during the day and I know I’m pretty close to my goal water intake. One of my friends loves her giant gallon water bottle. I recommend stainless steel and something that will stay cold for several hours. I also found that I drink water better if I have a straw to drink out of (and prevents backwash from kids).
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