Staying properly hydrated throughout the day is critical to optimal health. There is no hard and fast recommendation to exactly how much water you should drink per day because it depends on your body type, surrounding environment and your levels of physical activity. However, drinking adequate amounts of water is instrumental in flushing toxins from your vital organs, carrying nutrients to your cells, and providing moisture to your ears, nose and throat, states MayoClinic.com. In addition, staying hydrated will keep your energy levels up. Keep it simple and set a goal to drink eight to nine cups of water per day to properly hydrate yourself.
Step 1
Drink four, 8-oz. cups of water each day before noon. Drink a cup for breakfast, a cup during your first two hours at work, a third during the next two hours and a cup at lunch. Set a reminder on your phone or watch at the mid point of your day to make sure you are drinking adequate amounts.
Step 2
Plan to drink 4 to 5 cups of water during the second half of your day to properly hydrate yourself. Similar to your morning plans, drink a cup of water every two hours after lunch. Bring water with you to work or school and sip throughout the day. Set an alarm six to eight hours after lunch to make sure you are near 8 to 9 cups of water for the day.
Step 3
Drink more fluids before and after exercise to maintain adequate hydration. When you exercise, you lose water in your sweat, which may cause dehydration if not replaced. To adequately replace your fluids, weigh yourself before you begin exercise, and weigh yourself after to make sure you are the same weight. If you weight less, drink more fluids. You may also check the color of your urine. If your urine is clear to light yellow, you are staying properly hydrated.
Tips and Warnings
- Substitute sparkling water for alcoholic beverages to improve your hydration.
- Avoid drinking too much water, which may cause a serious electrolyte imbalance.
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