Guest Article: Staying Healthy by Drinking Water

This guest article about is about the importance of drinking water.  If you’re interested in writing a guest article about a specific topic, contact us.  Here is the information we’ve posted on our advertising information page about these kinds of articles:

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The following guest article is written by Jilisa Ghareeb.

Water! Water! Water!

There is water everywhere.  Heck, we live in a state that is almost completely surrounded by water.  Our adult bodies are made up of about 60% water.  Our brains are around 70% water!!  We literally live and breathe water.  So why then is it so FREAKING HARD TO DRINK IT?

Water is boring.  There is no flavor, no fizz, no excitement.  We live in a society that craves sugar and frankly water does not live up to our standards.  Here’s the catch though…we will die without it.  You already know that, but you still don’t drink it.

Yes, we get water from some foods and yes there is water in pop, beer and coffee. And yes, we can survive without water in its pure form.  Many people barely drink a drop of pure water on the daily (this is not recommended by…anyone!)!

What we need to know though is that water is in the TOP 3 when it comes to our health.   Keeping our bodies hydrated is vital in regulating body temperature, keeping joints lubricated, preventing infections, delivering nutrients to our cells and keeping those good ol’ internal organs functioning properly.  Being hydrated also improves sleep quality, cognition and our mood.  Are you feeling anxious, overly tired or maybe just uncharacteristically angry? Try increasing your daily intake of water.  {Please note that if you are experiencing any abnormalities in your life on a daily basis that pertain to physical and/or mental issues to seek medical attention from your doctor.}

On the flip side being dehydrated causes low blood volume (pretty important), constipation (poop is also pretty important), cramping, seizures and mental fog to mention a few.  Another big one ladies (and guys too) is our skin, being dehydrated will make those fine lines stand out and our skin tone to appear uneven.

What can we do to get this simple life saving, life revitalizing and life altering pure goodness into our bodies (and maybe more palatable to our taste buds so that we drink it) every day?  We can:

1. Be an adult and just drink it (pretty harsh, isn’t it?)!
2. Add fresh fruit (citrus fruits are great), veggies and herbs to spice it up.
3. Try spring water (it has a little fizz to it but no added ingredients).
4. Create a habit building from another habit you have (see below).
5. Use an app (yes, there is an app for everything)!
6. Get high tech and get a water bottle that tells you when to drink.
7. Keep a marked bottle with you at all times.

To elaborate on “create a habit”, use something that happens multiple times a day and build on it.  Example: every time you go to the bathroom…drink 8oz of water after.  If you are in and out of your car several times a day, take a drink (of water only!) before you put it in drive.  Take a moment and think about what happens in your day to day that you can build on.   This strategy can be used to create any new healthy habit.

Wait?!  How much should we be drinking?  It is very simple to calculate.  Halve your body weight and drink that number in ounces.  If you are 150lbs, you should be drinking 75oz minimum.  The number should be higher if you are an athlete, have a physically demanding job and/or are working outside.  A few things you should know about the consumption of water:

1. It is ok to drink a gallon of water or more per day (yes! a whole gallon or 128oz) in addition to everything else that we consume in a day.
2. It is recommended to not drink more than 33oz per hour (33×8=264oz…that’s a lot and probably more than the average person needs in a day)
3. It is possible to consume too much water in a day (that’s called water intoxication). It is uncommon though.
4. It is true that you will use the restroom more often, but that will regulate over time.

Honestly and simply, we need water.  There is no getting around it.  There is no getting away from it.   If we go too long without it, we will feel the effects physically and mentally.  We can survive without water for around 3 days (please don’t test this theory) but one day without it is too long.  Do your body a huge favor and drink water!

Jilisa Ghareeb has been a Beachbody coach for 5 years.  Her favorite part of being involved with fitness and nutrition is watching her clients change and open up a whole new world.  As a coach she, is able to help others by introducing them to a change that is often scary, intimidating and full of “what ifs” to an encouraging and inspirational lifestyle full of “I cans”. She uses her own story to show others that everything is possible with hard work and determination.  If you’re interested in reaching out to Jilisa for more information you can contact her via email, on Instagram,  or Facebook.