This past week, we finally got a taste of summer weather. It was hot and humid and everyone was outside enjoying it. In the heat, it’s important to make sure that we are drinking enough water, especially if you are active outdoors.
Our bodies need a minimum amount of clean, pure, natural water each day to maintain a good level of hydration, which will increase your body’s cell communication, resulting in better health. Water transports elements such as nutrients and hormones to vital organs, which are then made available to the rest of the body. Without enough water, the brain, which is 85 percent water, can’t function properly.
Many people drink plenty of coffee, fruit drinks, alcohol, soft drinks and other products as a means of satisfying their thirst, but that often has the opposite effect. It is important to realize that caffeine and sugary drinks actually dehydrate the body, and do not count towards our intake of water. Good hydration is as important as healthy eating.
How much water is right for you?
Here’s a great guideline (promoted by Paul Chek, author of How to Eat, Move and Be Healthy!) for the minimum daily intake for your body weight, in order for your cells to function optimally (this increases by a litre when you are active and when it’s hot outside):
Take your body weight in pounds, divide it by two and drink that many ounces a day (to determine the amount in liters take your body weight in kg and multiply by 0.033).
A 180 lb man, for example, would require a minimum of 90 ounces – or 2.7 litres – per day.
Just remember that more is always better!
Sign up now for the Best Body Bootcamp four-week program. Next Bootcamp starts July 20. When you sign up at one of our 10 outdoor locations around the city you get our ebook for free. Best Body Bootcamp is a goal-oriented, fitness program that I co-founded. Every workout is different and are all based on interval training. Check out bestbodybootcamp.com.
Image courtesy of @win photography.
