Drinking water can help you loose weight
Studies suggest that water could be a helpful in losing weight. A recent study suggested that by drinking water, overweight dieting women were able to promote weight loss by lowering total caloric intake and/or changing their metabolic rate. Another study showed that middle-aged and older women who drank water before a meal consumed fewer calories -- presumably because they already felt full -- and, consequently, they lost weight.
You may be dehydrated if your urine looks like Concentrated apple juice
An easy way to monitor your hydration level is to check the color of your urine. The darker your urine, the less hydrated you are. Drink enough fluids to keep your urine a lighter color. If your urine is clear or pale, chances are you are well hydrated.
Other practical ways to monitor your hydration status include keeping an eye on your body weight (you lose weight as you lose water) and perspiration (the more you perspire, the more water you're losing).Both studies were short-term, however, and it's unknown if the results would have held up over a longer period of time.
How much water does the average adult lose every day through natural bodily functions?
You lose about 10 or more cups of water every day just living -- breathing, sweating, urinating, etc. That amount of water loss is usually replaced by normal levels of daily eating and drinking.
The amount of fluid you need to stay properly hydrated depends on:
The amount of fluid you need depends upon a number of factors, including:
- Age: Children need more fluids because they produce more urine. Older people may need more fluids because of specific health conditions or because they tend to lose their sense of thirst.
- Gender: Men need more fluids than women. (And pregnant women need more fluids than other women.)
- Weight: Heavy people need more water.
- Health: Diseases such as diabetes, cystic fibrosis, and kidney disease can increase your need for fluids.
Environment: You need more fluids in extreme weather conditions (especially hot, humid, or cold) and at high altitudes.
Which of the following beverages is considered to be the most dehydrating?
Alcoholic beverages have the most dehydrating effect, but most other beverages contribute to your overall level of hydration. Coffee and other caffeinated beverages do have some diuretic effect, causing your kidneys to form urine. But they are generally hydrating because of their water content. Juices, sodas, and other sugary beverages also are hydrating. Water is usually a better choice for hydration because it doesn’t contain additional calories.
Exercise in hot, humid conditions can cause significant dehydration in as quickly as
It doesn't take long to get dehydrated -- especially in hot, humid weather. The National Athletic Trainers’ Association advises delaying or rescheduling vigorous outdoor exercise when it’s too hot and humid. Alternatively, you should take longer breaks, reduce the duration and/or intensity level, and make sure you're wearing minimal clothing or exercise gear.
How much of the average person's daily water intake is from food?
Moisture in food accounts for about 20% of the average person's total daily water intake. An apple is 84% water. Bananas are 74% water. Broccoli is 91% water. Even foods that you might not think of as particularly moist -- a plain bagel (33% water), ground beef (56%), American cheese (39%) -- help your body meet its hydration needs.
How much water should you drink per day?
There's no evidence for the oft-repeated assertion that people need at least eight glasses of water per day. The Institute of Medicine recommends that men consume the equivalent of about 125 ounces of water daily and that women consume about 91 ounces -- but that includes water intake from all foods and beverages. Most people get adequate hydration without "purposeful drinking" of fluids for hydration. According to the U.S. government's "Dietary Guidelines for Americans," "purposeful drinking" is only necessary for people "who are exposed to heat stress or who perform sustained vigorous activity."
People should avoid beverages and snacks with sodium when they're trying to rehydrate.
Sodium is something your body needs when you're trying to rehydrate – either during or after exercise. That’s why sports drinks are often rich in sodium -- one of the “electrolytes” your body loses during exercise. Drinks and snacks with sodium also can stimulate thirst and help you retain fluids. Too much salt, however, can increase your blood pressure and worsen heart conditions in some people.
You can't drink too much water while exercising.
It is possible to drink too much water. While normally functioning kidneys in an adult can process anywhere from 20 -1000 ml of fluid per hour, it's not easy to overload them -- but it can be done. Excessive amounts of water, especially over a short period of time, can be life-threatening. Symptoms of too much water include weight gain, bloating, nausea, and vomiting. Acute cases of water intoxication can cause low blood sodium, which can result in headaches, confusion, seizures, and coma.