Drink More Water, But How Much?
Bethany Bresnahan
First Lady Michelle Obama
"I've come to realize that if we were going to take just one step to make ourselves and our families healthier, probably the single best thing we could do is to simply drink more water."
Eight Glasses A Day?
The origins lie in a 1933 study on rodent hydration. In order for the average active person to make up for water lost to sweat and excretions, scientist recommend 2.5 liters (84.5 ounces) a day. 20 percent of those ounces come from foods that contain a lot of water like soup, ice cream, or celery. The last 67.6 ounces comes from water, about 8 bottles of 8 ounces.
But You Don't Really Need Eight Daily Glasses!
Other drinks besides water count, even caffeinated. Douglas Casa, The University of Connecticut's exercise physiologist, says, "The body's need to keep fluid trumps the small influence caffeine might have on losing fluid."
When to Drink Water?
1. The basic rule: Drink if you feel thirsty. If not, don't.
2. Drinking before an intense workout can be helpful.
Check Your Urine!
If you are worried you don't drink enough water, you can check the color of your urine. If it is light you are hydrated; if it is dark yellow you are dehydrated!