H2O

You've all heard the old adage, "Make sure you drink 8 glasses of water a day."

Yes we do all need to drink lots of water everyday.  Our body make up of water averages anywhere between 60-75%, decreasing slightly as we get older.  In the obese person, it can become as low as 45%!  How can the 8 glass rule ring true for every single person?  We are all different shapes and sizes.  The general rule to follow is drink half of your body weight in ounces.  For example, if someone is 150 lbs, then he/she should drink 75 ounces of water per day.  This is the general rule.  If someone runs 5 miles a day or lives in a really humid climate where they are constantly sweating, then they should be drinking a little bit more than someone who lives in a mild climate and walks half a mile a day.  Just some examples.

Some other H2O tidbits:

• When you feel thirsty, you are already borderline dehydrated so make sure to hydrate throughout the day even if you don't feel 'thirsty'
• Don't think you can try to sneak in 3-4 glasses of water with your meal;  you shouldn't drink too much water during your meal, you will dilute all the nutrients if you do!
• A little weight loss tip; drink a full glass of water about 20 minutes before you eat and then your stomach will be a little full and during the meal you will eat less (that is if you listen to your body when eating and stop eating when you feel full or just before the 'full' point)
• You know you are getting enough water when your pee is almost clear to clear

If you have questions, feel free to ask!

-Dr. A