How much water do we need to drink every day?
In regards to this topic, the best book that I’ve come across is called ‘The Water Secret’ by Dr. Murad. I would highly suggest everyone to read the book.
Water is essential for life and human health. However, people always have different opinions on the ideal recommended total water intake.
Now, in terms of daily intake of water, it’s not about how much water you are drinking every day.
You could drink gallons and gallons of water and still be dehydrated. This actually happens to a lot of people. Some study groups have also calculated that around 95% of North Americans are frequently dehydrated.
How?
When it comes to water, it’s important to consider how much water is absorbed by the body. And our body prefers water-loaded fruits/ vegetables instead of plain water. The water in the cell membrane of fruits and veggies is absorbed better by our body than drinking mindless gallons of water.
Wellness tip of the day
Eat your water, literally!
This is in fact the best way your cells absorb water. And if you stop doing this, your cells really can’t hold on to a lot of water. So, eat food which is really very high in water content.
Some examples are papayas, watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupes, oranges, zucchini, cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes, spinach, kale, etc. Make sure you’re eating at least one big bowl of raw salad per day and three to five servings of fruits a day to stay hydrated.
What does science say?
According to Dr. Murad, the author of ‘The Water Secret’, says, that when you eat your water through raw fruits and vegetables, you not only hydrate yourself, but you also give your body antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and roughage.
Fruits and vegetables contain fiber that can help flush excess toxins away from the body naturally, control appetite, lower cholesterol, make digestion more efficient, and improve immunity.
He further goes to say that when we consume foods that are high in water, our bodies don't have to expend water to digest and process those foods. The water eaten goes toward replenishing our cellular water and maintaining optimal cellular functions.
A study was also conducted in 2013 to examine the “Contribution of fruit and vegetable intake to hydration status in school children”. The data from the study confirmed that regular intake of fruits and vegetables may relevantly improve hydration status in children.
It added that dietary interventions to increase fruits and vegetable intake may be a promising strategy to achieve positive water balance in the studied population.
Hence, don’t just think about how much water you can drink overall. Rather try to include it through your foods especially fruits and vegetables.
Trust this helps,