How Much Water Do You Really Need to Drink?
Just a glass of water is helpful for many different things going on in the body. At Healthy Nest Nutrition, we talk about hydration a LOT. Let’s dive into how much water you really need to drink. And then talk about HOW to make it happen with consistency.
Why Our Bodies Need Water
We know that our bodies are approximately 60% water, and we know your body loses water when we exercise through sweating. Research points to how not drinking enough water negatively impacts general functioning. Here’s what we found when we went hunting for water and health in the many journals of nutrition:
- Not enough water negatively affects motivation, increases fatigue and makes exercise more difficult.
- Not enough water impairs brain function, poorly affects mood and anxiety. It even negatively alters memory.
- Water helps relieve constipation. An increase in water is always my first suggestion for constipation (salad is my second).
- An increase in water, through multiple mechanisms, helps with weight loss. It increases satiety, boosts metabolic rate and helps you stay fuller so you end up eating less.
- Lemon water is a safe and helpful way to make water more interesting, and DOES aid in weight loss. Research is not conclusive as to temperature (hot vs. cold) to drink it, or the timing of drinking it (first thing in the morning, etc.).
How Much Water Do You Really Need to Drink?
At Healthy Nest, the general rule is ½ your body’s weight in ounces. For example, if you weigh 140 pounds, you should drink 70 ounces of water. That’s 2-3 water bottles, depending on the size of bottles. If you exercise, add more.
Try this App to Track Your Water
There are a few good apps to help make water engaging and fun, and our favorite is called Plant Nanny. When you drink water, you can “water your plant” and watch it grow. You get to choose your plant, your pot and how big your drinking container will be. You get to choose alerts. If you haven’t drunk in a while, it prompts you to drink more. As you drink the plant gets bigger, sprouts flowers and is smiley. If you forget, it gets sad looking. That’s basically it. SIMPLE CONCEPT—BUT IT WORKS. Kids love it. Adults love it. We love it because you actually drink more consistently because of using it. Try it.
Reach out to our holistic nutritionists for help reaching your wellness goals. We offer a complimentary chat to make sure we’re a good fit for you. You can schedule that here.