Increasing your water intake can help you live longer
It is a known fact that water is necessary for survival. But did you know water has a positive effect on your overall health and potentially your life span? It’s true, water has multiple known health benefits.
Dr. Kristen Cosgrove-Counts, Advocate Health Care family medicine physician in Aurora, Ill., explains, “Adequate hydration can lower the risk of bladder infections, kidney stones and constipation. Additionally, drinking enough water keeps your skin looking healthy and young.”
A study found that drinking enough water may also decrease your risk of developing chronic diseases and therefore your risk of dying younger from health complications.
With the positive impact that water has on your health, you may be asking yourself – well how much water should I drink daily?
Dr. Counts recommends at least 64 ounces of water a day for an adult. “Another helpful guideline for water intake is to take your weight in pounds and divide it in half to get the number of ounces you should be drinking per day,” she says.
If you are not drinking enough water, dehydration is a concern. Symptoms of dehydration include headaches, elevated heart rate and fatigue.
If you are finding it difficult to drink enough water, here are some helpful tips from Dr. Counts:
- Drink a glass of water right when you wake up. Your body is behind on fluids when you wake up because you are not drinking water overnight.
- Carry water with you. Try using a reusable water bottle or cup to easily refill and keep your water cold.
- Drink a glass of water before every meal and with your meals.
- Not everyone finds water appealing, adding some flavor can be beneficial to increase water intake. Try adding fruit slices such as lemons or limes, or even sliced cucumber or mint.
- Herbal teas (iced or hot) can also contribute to daily water intake. Sparkling non-sweetened water is another way to hydrate.
Your body is made up of about 60% water, so adequate water intake is essential for your body to function. Start drinking more water today, it is never too late!
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About the Author
Blair Crane, health enews contributor, is a public affairs coordinator for Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Missouri - Columbia and has more than six years of communication and marketing experience. Outside of work you can find her trying new restaurants and hanging out with her two cats.
Thank you for this info, it should be shared with everyone. Drnking water and staying hydrates is so underrated!
Are there any real benefits to drinking alkaline water?
Is alkaline water better than plain water?
I’ve long been an advocate for keeping hydrated. I not only carry water with me when I walk or drive anywhere, I keep a cooling container at my bedside. There’s always water at my side when I sit down to read or watch tv, as well.
Thank you for the information. I never realized how much water each person should be drinking, and I need to make the change now to make my life longer. I have been a big soda drinker, like the sugar and the taste, but now I see how bad it is for myself.
Thank you. This information is very helpful & falls in line with what my Neurologist recommends. I have Dysautonomia.