Are you drinking enough water each day in order to stay hydrated?

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Ever wish you had more energy, could concentrate better or improve your mood? Think about this – are you are drinking enough water each day?

The human body is approximately 60 percent water. Every cell in our bodies needs water to function properly. It removes toxins, carries nutrients throughout the body and cushions our joints. Each day we lose water in our urine and as we breathe, sweat and digest our food. So it is essential for good health that we replace that water through the fluids we drink and the food we eat.

While extreme dehydration is quite rare, mild dehydration is more common. It can cause tiredness, a bad mood, concentration difficulties, constipation and contribute to kidney stones. In addition, mild dehydration can lead to headaches, dizziness and make you crave sugar.

Usually our bodies tell us whether we should be drinking more water. So it’s wise to pay attention to our thirst. But our bodies can sometimes mistake thirst for hunger. We may think we’re hungry when we actually need to drink more water. Also, as we age, the hypothalamus, a region of the brain that controls hunger and thirst, can become desensitized, dulling our sense of thirst.

So how much water should a person drink each day? You may have heard that everyone should drink eight glasses of water a day. This is a myth. There is no scientific evidence to support this. The amount you need varies from person to person and is influenced by many things, including how active you are and the climate you live in. Pregnant and nursing women need to drink more water while some health conditions may need you to limit your water intake.

One of the best ways to know you’re drinking enough water is this – your urine should be pale yellow. (One cautionary note – some medications, certain foods and food dyes can alter the color.) Another guideline is to drink a glass of water at each meal and one between each meal.

What about other beverages? Milk, juice, coffee and tea add to your fluid intake. But be careful with sugary beverages as they are usually not healthy. In addition to the liquids we drink, water also comes from the food we eat, especially fruits and vegetables.

Can you drink too much water? Yes, and drinking too much water can be lethal. But this is highly unlikely to happen.

And what about bottled water? Should you drink bottled water instead of tap water? It may be convenient at times, but is certainly not necessary. In fact, it may not be any better than tap water and may even come from tap water. About half of our bottled water actually comes from the tap.

In addition, bottled water is much more expensive than tap water. And tap water may be safer than bottled water since the federal government requires more rigorous safety monitoring of municipal tap water than it does of bottled water.

So, pay attention to your thirst and drink plenty of water and other nutritious beverages to help your body be as healthy as it can be.

Beth Sanborn is a licensed nutritionist who lives in Birch Bay and holds a master’s degree in public health nutrition.

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