Water is found in every cell of your body and plays an important role in all its vital processes. Being properly hydrated helps to:
- Enhance digestion and metabolism
- Boost brain function
- Regulate body temperature
- Carry nutrients, oxygen, enzymes and glucose to the cells
- Remove toxins and other metabolic waste from the body
- Cushion joints and strengthen muscles
- Provide natural moisture to skin and other tissues
Feel Your Best!
Staying properly hydrated will help keep your body feeling great and performing at its best. Proper hydration increases energy levels, makes you more alert and can even help reduce stress. Common signs of dehydration include achy joints and muscles, fatigue, headaches and dry skin. More serious dehydration can lead to dizziness and nausea.
Why Should You Monitor Your Hydration Status?
If you're like most people, you're not drinking enough water. If you wait until you feel thirsty, your body is already suffering from the effects of mild dehydration. You continually lose water during the day through sweat, urine and breathing. The amount varies due to physical activity level, climatctic conditions, illness, medications, hormone changes and poor nutrition. Monitoring your hydration allows you to quickly compensate if your levels are low. Your body will function more efficiently, you'll feel healthier and you'll reduce your risk of developing serious health problems. You can use a Tanita Scale to estimate your % water and hydration status.
Normal Total Body Water Percentage Ranges
- Female: Between 45 - 55%
- Males: Between 50 - 65%
For athletes, the figure is approximately 5% above these ranges, as they have greater muscle mass, and skeletal muscle contains more water than fat (adipose) tissue.
Tips for Staying Properly Hydrated
- Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water every day - more if you are very active. Avoid drinking too many fluids that contain caffeine or alcohol, as they substances act as diuretics, causing the body to lose fluids. If you do drink these fluids, make sure to compensate by drinking MORE water.
- Don't wait until you feel thirsty before drinking water, as you will already be mildly dehydrated.
- Carry a bottle of water around with you, keep a bottle in the car and one at your desk.
- Drink plenty of fluids before, during and after physical activity.
- Increase your fluid intake during warmer weather and at higher altitudes.
- Check your urine. It should be clear to pale yellow in color. If your urine is dark yellow, you probably need to increase your water intake. You should be urinating every 2 to 3 hours during the day.
- Enhance digestion and metabolism
- Boost brain function
- Regulate body temperature
- Carry nutrients, oxygen, enzymes and glucose to the cells
- Remove toxins and other metabolic waste from the body
- Cushion joints and strengthen muscles
- Provide natural moisture to skin and other tissues
Feel Your Best!
Staying properly hydrated will help keep your body feeling great and performing at its best. Proper hydration increases energy levels, makes you more alert and can even help reduce stress. Common signs of dehydration include achy joints and muscles, fatigue, headaches and dry skin. More serious dehydration can lead to dizziness and nausea.
Why Should You Monitor Your Hydration Status?
If you're like most people, you're not drinking enough water. If you wait until you feel thirsty, your body is already suffering from the effects of mild dehydration. You continually lose water during the day through sweat, urine and breathing. The amount varies due to physical activity level, climatctic conditions, illness, medications, hormone changes and poor nutrition. Monitoring your hydration allows you to quickly compensate if your levels are low. Your body will function more efficiently, you'll feel healthier and you'll reduce your risk of developing serious health problems. You can use a Tanita Scale to estimate your % water and hydration status.
Normal Total Body Water Percentage Ranges
- Female: Between 45 - 55%
- Males: Between 50 - 65%
For athletes, the figure is approximately 5% above these ranges, as they have greater muscle mass, and skeletal muscle contains more water than fat (adipose) tissue.
Tips for Staying Properly Hydrated
- Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water every day - more if you are very active. Avoid drinking too many fluids that contain caffeine or alcohol, as they substances act as diuretics, causing the body to lose fluids. If you do drink these fluids, make sure to compensate by drinking MORE water.
- Don't wait until you feel thirsty before drinking water, as you will already be mildly dehydrated.
- Carry a bottle of water around with you, keep a bottle in the car and one at your desk.
- Drink plenty of fluids before, during and after physical activity.
- Increase your fluid intake during warmer weather and at higher altitudes.
- Check your urine. It should be clear to pale yellow in color. If your urine is dark yellow, you probably need to increase your water intake. You should be urinating every 2 to 3 hours during the day.
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