Most of our bodies consist of water.  Our blood is made up of a large amount of water.  The fluid in our bodies that transfer waste is made up of water.  Every cell in our bodies is made up of water.  If we do not drink enough water, our bodies can’t perform all the functions they have to.

Example – the lymph fluids that transfer waste need to be replenished regularly for us to get rid of the waste.

So, How Much Water Should You Drink Daily?

And remember, tea and coffee and soft drink are NOT water.  Most of these contain caffeine, which is a diuretic.  In other words, it expels water from the body.  This happens because most of these drinks have an acidic pH, and our bodies try to get rid of the acid, thus getting rid of water in the process.  And as if that is not bad enough, these drinks are chokers full of chemicals as well.  Many diseases are caused by dehydration.  And because we take drugs for the symptoms, and never fix the actual problem, all we’re doing is ignoring the warning signs.

Once you understand that a lot of symptoms are your body’s way of saying it needs water, you will reach for the water rather than the pain killers.  Like a guy that I work with, says:  “If my kids complain about a headache, I will them to go have a glass of water.”

Water is used by our bodies for a myriad of processes, for example, digestion, detoxification, lubrication, etc.

Caffeine is a drug, and it is the most widely and commonly used drug in the world.  It stimulates the body to produce adrenaline.  The fight-or-flight response is temporary.  But with the amount of caffeine we consume every day, this fight-or-flight response never gets switched off.  We become addicted to the stimulus caused by the caffeine.  And it is because of this addiction that we crave another coffee or an energy drink.

But this fight-or-flight response is a stress on the body.  Your heartbeat increases, your pupils dilate, your breathing speeds up.  All of these are symptoms of stress.  And to be in a state of stress permanently means that your heart rate is permanently elevated, etc.  That is not good for your body.

I remember, a few years ago I asked my doctor for some medication to help me lose weight.  He prescribed a drug (of course) and I started taking it.  The first week I maybe slept for 3 hours.  I am serious…  The effect it had on my body, as described above (elevated heartbeat, fast breathing), was devastating.  I had all this energy during the day and at night I had all this adrenaline pumping through my veins, I was ready to fight-or-flee at 2 o’clock in the morning!

After not being able to sleep for a week, lying in bed at night literally listening to my heartbeat as it beats away at almost 140 beats per second, I realized I can not continue taking these tablets.  They would kill me.

And a couple of years ago I was talking to a friend at work, who asked the doctor for medication to help him lose weight.  And he got the same prescription I got all those years ago.  And I mentioned to him what it did to me.  And a couple of weeks later I asked him how he is coping with the meds, and he said he took it twice and then stopped because of the symptoms he displayed.  So really, these things are not good for us, they are not healthy, and it doesn’t matter how desperate you are to lose weight, they are not the answer.

Back to water now.  Our brains, bones, nerves, cells, digestive tract, everything needs water to operate.  And we need to supply our bodies with clean water in order to perform all these functions.  But how much water do I need?  Some say 2 liters, some say 6-8 glasses.  (But how big is your glass?)  Others say to drink a glass every two hours during the time you are awake.

For me, I think it comes down to each individual and how much you need.  If you are thirsty, have a glass of water.  If you think you are hungry between meals, have a glass of water, because mostly it is actually thirst and not hunger.  We confuse the two with each other.

An important indicator of how hydrated you are is the color of your urine.  If it is bright yellow, orange or brown, you definitely need water.  If it is light yellow, you are probably well hydrated.  Just remember, if you take vitamins, your urine will be bright yellow because of the coloring in the vitamins.  But that will disappear a couple of hours after you took the vitamins.

Tips To Drink Enough Water Daily:

  • Drink water when you think you feel hungry
  • Avoid fluoridated water if possible
  • Filter tap water
  • Avoid bottled water if the bottles are plastic
  • Eat high-water-content fruit (like watermelon)
  • Drink a veggie juice once a day (organic veggies if possible)
  • Limit caffeine to max two cups per day
  • If you increase your water intake, also increase your magnesium, potassium and sodium intake.

Final Word

We can go for weeks without food.  We can fast for a month without dying.  But we can go only a couple of days without water before our bodies shut down.  Every organ in our bodies need water, yet we instead give it coffee, diet drinks, drugs, etc.  Remember, be kind to your body and it would be kind to you.  Start drinking good quality water, make sure you are well hydrated and see the difference it makes!