All About Water

Did you know that water makes up approximately 60% of our body?

Water is one of the six classes of nutrients our body needs to stay healthy. Every cell, tissue, joint and organ in our body needs water to work!

But, how much water do you need to drink?

In general for adults, a minimum of eight cups of water are needed per day (64 ounces), but some people need more water than that.

You need to increase your water or fluid intake:

• Before, during and after exercise
• When spending time outside in a hot and humid environment
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding
• If you are ill with fever, vomiting or diarrhea

These eight cups of water make up about half of the daily fluid requirement our body needs. You also get fluid from foods and other beverages. Some people like to consume sports drinks, like Gatorade and Powerade, but unless you are actively sweating for over an hour or are losing electrolytes through vomiting or diarrhea, these are not truly needed. Sports drinks can give you extra calories, which can lead to weight gain. They also contain sodium, which may affect blood pressure in some people.

You make your own naturally flavored “infused” water by adding fruit such as lemon wedges, sliced strawberries, blueberries or orange slices. Herbs such as mint, rosemary or basil also add flavor to water. Drinking infused water can help you increase your fluid intake, without adding a lot of calories.