PI Helps You Stay Hydrated!
We have all heard the importance of staying well hydrated, but do you know that not many of us actually drink enough water?
Why is that? Some people say that drinking water can feel boring. It can lead to more frequent bathroom trips, which may get disruptive or annoying. It can get monotonous and leave us wanting something with flavor. But we cannot discount the myriad benefits of drinking enough water—and doing so EVERY DAY.
What are the benefits of drinking water?
Our bodies are about 60% water, and because we constantly lose water, we must constantly replenish it. Dehydration leads to feelings of lethargy and a whole host of health problems. Severe dehydration can lead to confusion, dizziness, or even seizures. But even if we are just slightly dehydrated we may feel “off,” lack energy, and even lose our focus.
So what’s so great about water? Let’s look at some of its amazing benefits:
- Water helps maintain our weight.
This may be for one of two reasons. First, sometimes our body is actually thirsty but we mistake this thirst for hunger, so we eat when we don’t really need to. This can lead to a calorie overload or even to us grabbing something unhealthy as a quick snack. Second, our bodies tend to hold onto water if they’re not getting enough. This can make us bloated. So before you grab a snack, drink a glass of water and reassess how you’re feeling.
- Water helps us stay focused.
According to Healthline, “Studies show that even mild dehydration, such as the loss of 1–3% of body weight, can impair many aspects of brain function.” So if you’re feeling distracted, grab a glass of water. It may just do the trick to get you back on track.
- Water increases our energy.
Even just slight dehydration can lead to lethargy, so sip water throughout the day. An easy way to make sure you get enough water is to keep track. Performance Inspired now offers an awesome water jug—with a comfortable handle and a convenient strap—that holds over 77 ounces. Why did we make it so large? So you don’t have to keep filling it up! We wanted to make it easy for you. If you want something a little smaller to carry, we offer two shakers: a 23-ounce stainless steel one and a 28-ounce plastic (BPA-free) one. While originally designed to help you mix your favorite protein drink, they are also great for taking along your water for everyday hydration.
- Water helps our bodies maintain a normal temperature.
The National Council on Aging explains that when you’re dehydrated, your body stores more heat. This in turn lowers your ability to tolerate hot temperatures. Drinking plenty of water helps you produce sweat when you’re overheated during activity, which in turn cools your body down. This built-in cooling mechanism is critical in preventing heat stroke and other potentially deadly heat-related conditions.
So whether you’re outside on a hot day, feeling ill, or hitting the gym, make sure you are drinking enough water.
- Water can help stave off headaches.
If you’re like me and suffer from migraines or chronic headaches, you’ll try almost anything to alleviate the pain. Did you know that even mild dehydration can lead to the brain contracting away from the skull, which causes headaches? So the next time you feel a headache coming on, grab some water and see if it helps. Better yet, stay hydrated and see if you get fewer headaches!
- Water helps remove waste products from our bodies.
Water keeps our bodily systems working properly and flushing the natural wastes we all have. If we don’t drink enough water, we may encounter constipation or even kidney problems.
- Water helps prevent medical conditions like UTIs and kidney stones.
Kidney stones result when clumps of crystals form in the urinary tract. This can be horribly painful. Drinking plenty of water dilutes the concentration of the minerals that form the stones, reducing the likelihood that they will be created. In addition, drinking the proper amount of water flushes harmful bacteria from inside the bladder, which can help prevent UTIs.
- Water helps lubricate our joints.
Because the cartilage in our joints contains about 80% water, staying well hydrated will also keep our joints lubricated. This helps reduce friction between the bones. And if there’s less friction, we will feel less pain.
Do other liquids “count” as water?
While the majority of what we drink should be water, sometimes we crave some extra flavor or we need electrolytes. But we must be cautious, as many sports drinks contain high amounts of sugar. That’s why Performance Inspired has created our Ready 2Go protein water. Made without artificial sweeteners, flavors, or colors, and always with a clean taste, this water, naturally sweetened with stevia and real fruit juice, contains 16 grams of protein. So you can stay hydrated and get extra protein. This is especially important for those who work out regularly and want to bulk up, and it’s important for women as they age, as they often find that their bodies crave protein or they begin to feel weak if they don’t get enough. Our protein water comes in four delicious flavors: fruit punch, watermelon blast, blueberry lemonade, and rainbow sherbet. So grab a few for your gym bag and your fridge.
We know that flavor is what many people crave, but it’s important to not seek that satiation in juices and sodas. While they do contain some water, they are high in calories and sugars and offer very few health benefits. To add your own flavor to your water, simply add fresh limes, lemons, or even strawberries or raspberries.
Coffee and tea do count as water, but if they’re caffeinated, they will also have a diuretic effect, so if you drink more than a couple small cups of coffee, you may want to increase your water intake. This will also keep you from becoming jittery.
Alcoholic drinks do contain water, but according to WebMD, these “actually cause you to lose more water through your urine.” If you plan to drink, alternate your alcoholic beverage with a glass of water.
Remember, not all fluids are equal. Keep in mind that you can become dehydrated even if you feel that you are drinking lots of fluids. Make sure the majority of what you drink is water.
How much water do I need?
Exactly how much water we need each day is dependent upon our size, how much activity we are undertaking, and even how hot it is outside, as we sweat more and need to replace more fluids when it’s hotter. It’s best to talk to your doctor, but the WebMD has some basic guidelines.
It recommends that men drink about 13 cups—that’s three liters or a little over 101 ounces—of fluid every day. It recommends that women drink nine cups—that’s slightly more than two liters or about 67 ounces—every day (so women, you only need to fill up our 77-ounce water jug once a day!). Pregnant and nursing women need more. Likewise, the more activity you do and the hotter it is, the more you will need.
If you’re used to drinking from a standard 16.9 oz water bottle, for women that’s a little over four, and for men that’s a little under six. In addition to being cumbersome to count and carry around, that’s a lot of plastic! And it’s another great reason to use one of our reusable water bottles!
Water is vital to all of our bodily systems. At Performance Inspired Nutrition, we know that, and we want you stay healthy and hydrated. We only get one body. Let us help you treat it right!
