Hydrate Your Way To Health
Water is incredibly healthy for you. It is the 'oil' that lubricates our body. The National Institute of Health (NIH) reports that 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. And for many, our thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.
According to the NIH, drinking a quart of water daily reduces the risk of colon cancer by 45%, reduces the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and reduces the risk of bladder cancer by 50%. Additional research also indicates drinking half a gallon of water a day would significantly ease back and joint pain for 80% of sufferers.
Here are three easy ways to add more water to your diet:
1. Quit drinking soda! Replace every soda you drink with a glass of water. Soda is about as bad for your body as it gets (yes, even diet soda). Researchers calculate that for each additional soda consumed, the risk of obesity increases 1.6 times. Here are some reasons why:
- Soda is high in phosphorous (not to mention carbonation), which causes deterioration of calcium in the bones, making bones weak and brittle.
- A 16 oz. Coke has 40 grams of sugar. By comparison, a packet of sugar has 4 grams of sugar. These extremely high doses of refined sugar cause your body to overproduce insulin, further preventing your body from adding calcium to your bones.
- Soda is high in sodium which causes dehydration and fatigue, and can affect short-term memory and your ability to focus.
- Drinking water instead of soda actually saves water. Did you know it takes one gallon of water to make a single can of soda?
2. If you drink alcoholic beverages, drink one glass of water for each alcoholic drink. This will reduce the strain on your liver from processing the alcohol, and help prevent dehydration caused by alcohol consumption.
3. Drink a minimum of 8 oz of water for every 15 minutes of exercise. This is an easy one - just carry a water bottle with you whenever you exercise and take frequent small drinks. You'll be able to exercise longer with better muscle response and less fatigue.
4. At mealtime, between each bite of food, put down your fork and take a sip of water. You'll slow down your eating, feel full faster, and consume less food.
