Yes. Your body, meaning all body structures, need water to be healthy. The body requires 1/2 your weight in ounces of water daily. Now, if you have a fluid restriction issued by a physician, stick to that amount. Your fluid restriction should primarily be water. Otherwise, humans require 1/2 their weight in ounces of water daily in order for body structures to function correctly Body structures are anything our human bodies have: skin, hair, heart, eyes, brain, bones, muscles, lymphatic system, etc.
Caffeine, tea, coffee, soda pop, juices, milk, additives in water (like the powder packets), etc do not count towards the water intake. Water and small pieces of fruit added to water count toward water.
Take your body weight in pounds, divide that amount in half. That number should be how many ounces of water you drink daily. An individual who weighs 200# should drink 100 ounces daily + 20 ounces once consistent. An individual who weighs 160# should drink 80 ounces daily + 20 ounces once consistent.
Measure and know the ounces of each cup you drink out of. Increase water intake slowly, adding to the daily amount every 3 days. Start with what water you, on average, drank the last 3 days. If its 1 glass (8 oz) of water, then stay at 1 glass (8 oz) daily for 3 days. On the 4th day, increase to 2 glasses (16 oz) each day. On day 7, increase to 3 glasses (24 oz) daily. Keep going until you consistently stay at the total ounces your body requires daily. Once consistent, then add the bonus 20 oz. As your weight and activity fluctuates, so will the required daily water intake.
Drink most of the water 4 hours prior to bedtime, then taper fluid intake. This allows your urinary system to drain before interrupting your sleep. This DOES NOT include teas, coffee, juices, pop, etc.
The digestive system filters out the additives which requires energy and minimal water remains. The lymphatic system is our trash collector and disposer of our body. It’s the garbage trucks that clean off the trash from our sidewalks, or in our body, the trash out of our arms, legs, gut, and brain. Think what happens if the garbage truck drivers put diesel fuel in their gas tanks? The garbage trucks wouldn’t go. Drinking fluids other than primarily water is creating your body into a toxic place for trash to live. Putting water in your body is the best mechanism to remove trash and toxins naturally. Diesel fuel : garbage trucks = trash fluids : toxic human body. Gasoline : garbage trucks = water : human body structures and function.
Remember:
Individuals should be drinking ½ their weight in ounces of water + 20 additional ounces daily. Track the ounces you should drink and are drinking in a journal, on a calendar, somewhere you will remember. Label each bottle you have with a 1, 2, 3, 4, etc for each bottle you must drink. Or use a method to help you get the ounces of water in daily.
Journal how your body feels in the initial 21 days of increasing water hydration.
Tips:
If you drink hot drinks such as coffee, tea, etc, a 94 year old patient started drinking hot water instead. He couldn’t believe how good that tasted.
Another 63 year old lady didn’t realize how much soda pop she and her family were drinking. She calculated the $$ she was spending on soda pop and realized water helped the family’s health, energy level, and huge savings at the grocery store and restaurants.
Cheers to your hydrating with primarily water!
Chay Mission 