“Observe a plant before and after being watered and relate these benefits to your BODY & BRAIN.  Water flushes unwanted toxins from your body and keeps your brain sharp.”  – Lululemon Athletica

Water is absolutely CRUCIAL to all aspects of your health and wellness, including your skin, joints, brain, energy, focus, weight loss and reducing risk of disease and infection.  Water makes up 60-70 % of your body weight and EVERY system in your body depends on water.  If there is ONE thing that can immensely change your health for the better – it’s the amount of H2O you drink every day.

How much should I drink every day? The 8-12 glasses (8 oz each) minimum is a GREAT guideline.  The Institute of Medicine recommends that men consume 3 liters (about 13 cups) of total beverages a day and women consume 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) of total beverages a day.  Most bottled water contains around 16 oz – so I make sure I drink four per day minimum or fill up my Live Well CamelBak Water Bottle three times per day.

Can I count coffee/tea/soft drinks in my daily amount? Your 8-12 glasses per day should come from water, NOT from tea, coffee, or soft drinks.  Coffee/tea/soft drinks actually dehydrate you – and therefore you need to drink an EXTRA glass of pure water to replace what you have lost.

How about tap water? I personally don’t drink unfiltered tap water.  When Dr. Wentz, the world’s expert on cellular nutrition, was asked what vitamin he would give his cells in Gull Labs if he could only give them only one, he replied, “purified water.”  His cells would show signs of degeneration when they did not get purified water – even more so than lack of good nutrition.

When should I drink water? Sip throughout the day – imagine lightly sprinkling a lawn, not deluging it with a downpour as this will create a “run-off” and not be absorbed properly.  Keep a bottle of water with you at ALL times so that you can sip throughout the day. Drink before you are thirsty because when you are thirsty you are already dehydrated. Thirst is also often mistaken as hunger – so drink often to feel less hungry.  Dehydration may show up as a headache, tiredness, lightheadedness, nausea or anxiety.  If you experience any of these symptoms, drink 1-2 glasses of pure water (before you eat or grab a coffee or sugar!) and notice if you feel better.

What if I find it difficult to drink enough water? Make it more appealing – add lemon/lime to it along with liquid stevia (if you like a bit of natural sweetness) or a tiny bit of pure juice (so you don’t spike your blood sugar).  Sip when you are doing activities that you don’t even think of it like writing emails, driving, blow drying your hair (my favorite).   I keep bottles in my car, in my office, in my kitchen, bedroom so that whatever I am doing I can be sipping throughout the day.

When should I drink more than normal? When you have exercised more than usual, it is extremely hot or if you have had more alcohol, salty or richer meals.  With alcohol and rich meals – on the day of AND the day after – water and USANA’s Proflavanol 90 will help you feel better and get the toxins out of your body more quickly.

Drink 8 glasses of water today and just notice how you feel… when we feel better, we tend to keep doing things that are good for us!

Be Happy… Be Vibrant…

Carmen xo