WATER, The Elixir of Life: How much should you drink every day?

You’ve probably heard that more than 50 percent of the human body is made of water. More amazing is that our brain and heart are 73 percent water, and our lungs are 83 percent H2O. Yet for some reason, many of us don’t drink enough of it. Here’s something to think about on your next trip to the refrigerator. 18 percent of all Nigerians drink zero cups of water a day. 18 percent. Zero cups. Almost one in 10 Nigerians drink no water every day. This result is mindboggling. “Water is vital for life, Many health risks decrease when you drink a lot water.” Research shows that the people in that 18 percent of non-water drinkers are getting their water from coffee, sodas, food and other sources.

In addition to the 18percent that drink no water, research and proper study found out that 38 percent of Nigerians drink less than four cups of water per day.”Almost one in 10 Nigerians drink no water every day” a researcer said. How much water should we be drinking? There is no national standard. The government and leading medical organizations haven’t issued an official guideline on water consumption. This is because you’ve probably heard that more than 50 percent of the human body is made of water. More amazing is that our brain and heart are 73 percent water, and our lungs are 83 percent H2O. Yet for some reason, many of us don’t drink enough of it probably because individual water needs vary by age, body type, gender and activity level.

Of course, there’s no shortage of unofficial recommendations. The Institute of Medicine’s food and nutrition board does not specify water requirements, but it does “recommend” 91 ounces of water a day for women and 125 ounces a day for men. That amount includes water from all beverages and foods. About 20 percent of daily water intake usually comes through food, which means the actual recommended water intake for women is 73 ounces (9 cups) and for men it’s 100 ounces (12.5 cups). How much water someone needs to drink vary from person to person, the take-home message is that choosing plain water to satisfy your thirst is the healthiest option. Drinking less than 32 ounces — or 4 cups daily — as did half the sample in the study, likely indicates that many people either choose less healthy beverages to satisfy their thirst or drink little water daily.”

There are two easy ways people can tell if they’re getting enough water. If you’re thirsty, you’re not drinking enough water. The Institute of Medicine reports that “the vast majority of healthy people adequately meet their daily hydration needs by letting thirst be their guide.” But: Thirst can be an imperfect gauge, especially for kids and older adults. Secinfky, experts recommends checking your urine. Urine that is the color of pale lemon water or clearer usually indicates proper hydration. If urine is dark yellow, you might not be drinking enough water. “People who drink a lot of water tend to have a lot of other healthy habits, such as eating fruits and veggies, eating balanced meals, eating with family and friends, eating less fast food.

“These healthy habits cluster together. If someone is looking to make their overall nutrition healthier, water is part of the overall picture. Tap water is safe and free. There are lots of places in the world where it is not free or is expensive.” Also another research gives advice on when hot or cold water should be taken. Sometimes a warm drink can cool the body down faster than a cold one. A warm drink triggers a sweat response. So even though the warm liquid will warm the body on the inside, sweat more than compensates as liquid on the skin mingles with the air and cools the body from the outside. Drinking warm liquids, however, is only beneficial under certain conditions. Anyone who wants to try this should not wear too much clothing (remember the sweat on the skin must meet the air) and should only do so on a hot, dry day. Avoid anything that keeps sweat from evaporating such as humidity or a sweatshirt. If a person is already sweating, doctors advises drinking cold water to cool down. Ever wondered why people eat spicy food and wear loose clothing near the equator? This is why Water for the active For the physically active, water has added benefits. It prevents aches, and it flushes toxins from the body.

Why Drink More Water?

- Helps to lose weight

- For healthy skin

- Fights infections

- Get rid of body toxins

- For healthy heart

- Prevent Joint Pain and Arthritis

- Boost energy

- Prevent xonstipation

- Reduce risk of cancer

- Improves productivity

It is important to note that energy drinks and sports drinks are not the same thing. We recommend sports drinks that contain six percent glucose or less for endurance athletes as well as for people who live in extreme environments (such as university students walking all day in the Lagos heat) or anyone engaged in an activity that cause them to sweat profusely. Otherwise, water is preferable.

A Note To Parents

If you want to raise children who drink water for the rest of their lives, don’t give them sweet drinks when they’re babies. Studies show that babies who drink sweet drinks are more likely to drink soda and other high-calorie beverages as adults. According to research, people are less likely to drink water as adults if they didn’t eat many fruit and vegetables as a child, ate fast food more than once a week and ate fewer than five dinners per week around a table with family or friends.

Want to drink more water?

If you’re not among the 32percent of Nigerians who drink eight cups (64 ounces) or more of water a day, here are two tips to get you started:

1. Pour a pitcher that contains the amount of water you want to drink each day. If you can see it, there is a better chance you will drink it.

2. Drink from a large container with a straw. This will subconsciously cause you to drink more. It’s a trick that fast food chains have long employed. But you can use this hack to your advantage.

 

 

 

By,

Ofili Chukwunyem.