Add Water to Your Diet! It’s the Healthy Choice!
The Importance of Drinking Water: Essential for Health and Hydration
Unlike most other foods, there’s no debate about the benefits of drinking water! Water is undeniably essential to life. However, proper hydration is too often taken for granted until we face emergency health issues or dehydration. Consuming water helps Americans achieve optimal nutritional health, especially when substituted for sugar-based beverages.
Today more than ever Americans are paying the price for dietary choices that are often unhealthy and lack sufficient water. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that nearly half of U.S. children and more than two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025, published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Health and Human Services (USDA), promote the consumption of water instead of sugar-based beverages. While the causes of overweight and obesity are nuanced and multi-faceted, there’s no doubt that the focus on quality water hydration is largely overlooked in comparison to other dietary components. This is evident in the fact that most healthy dietary marketing collateral visible in doctor’s offices and school cafeterias across the U.S. today features grains, proteins, and dairy but lacks representation of water.
Recent CDC research shows US children and adolescents averaged only 23 ounces of daily plain water intake (2015-2018), falling short of the recommended 40-64 ounces, raising concerns about potential underhydration.
Our bodies are almost 70% water, our muscles are up to 75% water, our heart is up to 80% water, while our brain is up to 85% water! All the most important body parts need water to stay hydrated every day. Losing as little as 1% of your body’s water can impair muscle function and cognition.
Water is the best choice to maintain hydration. Be sure to drink before, during, and after physical activity. Even when you aren’t thirsty, keep drinking water. Avoid soda, fruit juices, flavored waters, and any drinks that contain high concentrations of sugar.
Clean, healthy water is the best water to stay hydrated. While filtered water can be a good option, the quality of tap water can vary. It is recommended to check your local water quality report to understand any potential contaminants. If filtration is desired, common types include activated carbon, reverse osmosis, and UV filters.
Remember:
- The amount of water you need each day can vary depending on factors such as your age, activity level, and climate. Consult with a healthcare professional to determine your individual hydration needs.
- The best water is the one you will drink consistently!
For more information on how you can safeguard your home’s water supply, Contact Culligan of Low Country, and schedule a FREE in-home water quality consultation! Address your specific water quality needs, to ensure a hydrated home and family.
Chris Lane is the owner of Culligan Water of the Low Country, serving over 8,000 homes and businesses in the Beaufort, Jasper, and Hampton Counties.
