THURSDAY THIRTEEN #214

Last week I cataloged everything I consumed and was surprised when someone commented that I "sure drink a lot." In just over 24 hours I had 3 colas, a hot chocolate, a glass of milk and a mixed drink. Add 3 glasses of water and that put me to nine beverages in a day. That got me thinking ... Is that really "a lot?" Quick answer: no.

THIRTEEN FACTS ABOUT HUMANS 

AND HYDRATION

1) Approx. 60% of your body weight is water, and maintaining that percentage is important to maintaining your health.

2) According to WebMD, the average woman loses 72 oz. of fluid every day, simply by living and breathing. For a man, the number is higher: 104 oz.

3) Those figures are averages and do not account for heat or exertion that can result in extra perspiration. On hot days, or on days when you exercise, you naturally just slough off more of your body's natural fluid.

4) It's important that every day you take in at least as much moisture as you expel.

5) If you allow yourself to become dehydrated, your body will have a more difficult time flushing out toxins and transporting nutrients to your nerves and muscles.

6) If you don't replenish the moisture you have lost, it's not uncommon to feel sluggish and rundown.

7) It can also lead to some embarrassing problems -- like bloating, belching and constipation. This is because your digestive system really needs hydration to work as it's supposed to.

8) More serious symptoms of chronically not taking in enough fluid are early-onset arthritis and food allergies.

9) Staying hydrated is important to weight loss, too. While drinking all that soda is unarguably bad for me (Bad Gal!), it's essential that you drink 8 or more beverages a day in order to maintain your metabolism. And a sluggish metabolism frequently contributes to obesity.

10) While liquor and caffeinated drinks are most emphatically not good for you, they are not effective diuretics because they contain more water than they drain, and therefore do "count" as you tabulate your fluid intake.

11) A healthy, hydrated adult should have to urinate every 3-4 hours.

12) You should also never let yourself get very thirsty.

13) Remember, water is not the only way to consume water. Grapes, watermelon, tomatoes, milk, juice, soups ... they all help hydrate you.

And this is one reason why I still love my TTs. I learn so much doing them!

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