Do I REALLY need to drink more water?
We hear it from all directions daily, drink water, drink more water, heck even as I type this the doctor side of my brain is saying shouldn’t you be drinking a glass of water, soon? So, why? Drinking enough water is essential for normal functions such as circulation, metabolism, temperature regulation, and waste removal. Excessive dehydration is associated with serious health problems, even mild dehydration can cause issues, including headaches, irritability, poorer physical performance, and reduced cognitive functioning. Studies have shown a 2% loss of hydration can lead to a 20% loss in performance in sporting events. There are many times in our clinic where patients talk to use about constipation, cramping, foggy headedness and we make the first suggestion of drink more water. Research out of Harvard confirms what we have been encouraging. Looking at data from 2009-2012 on more than 4,000 children and adolescents aged 6 to 19 they found that a little more than half of all children and adolescents weren’t getting enough hydration. Boys were 76 percent more likely than girls, and non-Hispanic blacks were 34 percent more likely than non-Hispanic whites, to be inadequately hydrated and a quarter of the children and adolescents in the study reported drinking no plain water at all.
So, next time you are reaching for a glass fill it with water first! Each day try to reach half your body weight in ounces.
