Are you and your children drinking enough water? Chances are you already are. However, what you thought you knew about water consumption for hydration might be a myth.
1. You drink exactly eight glasses a day.
For some people, this might be true, but it’s not true for everyone. Age, weight and gender play a part in how much water a person needs. In fact, people ages 19-20 might need anywhere from 11-15 cups of water per day. On the contrary, toddlers only need about 4 cups of water daily. Outdoor temperatures, pregnancy or lactation, and exercise amount also determine this amount.
2. Caffeinated beverages don’t hydrate.
You’d have to drink more than 500 mg of coffee before it could start to dehydrate you. If you consume only about 269 mg of caffeine per day, it hydrates you as much as equal amounts of water. Drink no more than about 2-3 cups of coffee per day, and you should still take in enough fluids without drying out your body.
3. You can’t have too much water.
You need more water when outdoor temperatures climb. It can prevent you from heat exhaustion — or worse yet, heatstroke. However, drinking excess water can eliminate too much sodium from your body. When this happens, body tissues swell. Drinking too much water causes a condition called hyponatremia, which results in nerve damage in some people. The most extreme cases of drinking too much water can cause death. Nausea, vomiting, headaches, bloating or swollen hands and feet could mean you’re drinking too much water.
4. Clear urine indicates hydration.
If you see no color in your urine, you have taken hydration too far. Instead, make sure it remains a pale-yellow shade. If your urine appears dark and cloudy, drink more water. If you see no color, let up on how much water you consume per day. Nutritionists can help you learn how to calculate how much water you should drink in a day if you don’t know.
5. If you’re thirsty, you must drink.
Airway passages blocked while sleeping could dry out your mouth, or diabetes can make you feel thirsty. Reactions to various medications could also make you think you need more water. However, feeling thirsty doesn’t mean you don’t still have fluid in your system. In fact, you could live without water for up to three days if you had to. Going without water for a few hours while working usually won’t dehydrate you. If working in extreme heat, just take a few sips at a time. You don’t need to gulp down entire containers of it.
Learn more about how Tyler Mountain Water can help you with your hydration needs.
