Unleashing the Power of Hydration: How to Know How Much Water to Drink
Each person is unique and has unique needs but the universe is not static, so these needs change within a range of possibilities. What we have to understand is how to find and stay within our healthy range of possibilities. With water especially there are some very simple common sense rules to follow. My podcast series gives much needed context to water intake. The current varying advice starts from around 1.5 litres to 3 litres of water daily. The easy to follow rules I will give you are going to enable you to unleash the power of hydration and find your own unique optimum healthy range.
- An average sized adult needs to drink a minimum of 1.5 litres of WATER daily. I mean actual water with nothing in it. Coffee and tea are diuretics which often means that you may lose more than you drink, because diuretics make you urinate more.
- If you wake up in the morning with a headache and a dry mouth, you need to increase your daily water intake. Remember, most headaches are relieved by a few glasses of water. Try water before you buy painkillers. Read my blog post on the dangers of painkiller abuse.
- Your urine should be straw coloured. If the colour is rich yellow or orange you need to drink more water, keep increasing your daily intake until your urine is usually straw coloured.
- Pebble like stools and difficulty defecating are almost always due to dehydration. Drink more water.
- Aim to urinate 6 to 7 times daily. When you begin correcting water intake you will urinate a lot more until your body adjusts. However in the long term aim to urinate 6 to 7 times daily.
- If you consistently have clear urine, then reduce your water intake. It is too much and we do not need to put excess strain on our kidneys.
- When you are exercising and sweating, drink water. Stay hydrated. This will of course increase your daily intake.
When you find your healthy range it will be somewhere between 1.5 litres and 3 litres, depending upon your personal conditions and the climate you are in. As we get older our thirst response weakens so we have to develop micro habits that keep us hydrated as an insurance for old age. Hydration will leave you with clearer, more supple skin, increased energy and will often help you to develop healthier moods. It is perhaps the most effective way or reducing wrinkling and keeping skin healthy and smooth. Click on this link to listen to the podcasts – there is a lot more in them.