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Are You Drinking Enough Fluids?

Water is essential to life. In fact, up to 70% of our body weight is water! It’s important to drink enough water each day to promote good health and prevent dehydration.

Here are just a few of the many benefits of drinking water every day:

  • Flush toxins out of your body
  • Regulate body temperature
  • Lubricate and cushion joints
  • Protect your spinal cord & other tissues

You may have heard the advice to drink 8 glasses of water per day. This is a great guideline to follow if you’re not used to tracking your water intake.

8 glasses or 64 fluid ounces of water is average for most people. You may need to adjust this amount based on factors such as your physical activity levels, your environment (e.g., humid vs. dry), and your health.

It’s also important to remember that up to 20% of your daily fluid intake can come from food such as soup, chicken, vegetables, and fruit. For example, foods like spinach and watermelon are as much as 100% water by weight!

While it’s best to hydrate with pure water, you can also incorporate other beverages such as milk, decaffeinated coffee, and tea. Try not to drink too many sweetened beverages, as these often contain excess sugar and calories.

Read more about the benefits of drinking water from the Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256

Head over to the Nutrition tab to track your daily water intake

TIP: If you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated! Your urine should be colorless or light yellow in color. If you are sick, exercising, or working outside, be sure to increase your water intake accordingly.

Published on November 25, 2022