How much water should I drink?

Brought to you by: Mendez Chiropractic Center

How to Stay Hydrated:
It is extremely important to keep your body hydrated at all times to avoid dehydration and its resulting health consequences.
A good rule for drinking the right amount of water is to drink one glass with each meal, one glass between each meal, and extra glasses following exercise.
You should also take care to drink a glass of sparkling water or other beverage during social gatherings to supplement your daily intake. While most foods and all beverages contain some water, drinking pure water is generally the best for your body.

                                               Symptoms of Dehydration:
Water is essential for your body to function properly. It flushes toxins out of your organs, carries nutrients throughout the body, and provides a moist environment for sensitive tissues and organs. When your body is not properly hydrated, it will begin to send signals to your brain and produce the following symptoms:
Headache
Thirst
Dry mouth
Muscle weakness
Fatigue or Lethargy
Dizziness
Lightheadedness

Pregnancy:
Aim for eight 8-ounce glasses per day (64 fluid ounces) of fluid, plus one 8-ounce cup for each hour of light activity. Milk, juice, decaffeinated drinks, and caffeinated drinks all contain plenty of water and "count" toward your fluid intake.  Keep in mind that juice and sweetened drinks also provide a lot of extra calories, so don't rely on them too much.  It's best to limit caffeine, too – including caffeinated teas and colas – to 200 mg (about one 12-ounce cup) per day. More than that raises the risk of miscarriage, according to a 2008 study.  (It's a myth that caffeinated drinks dehydrate you. Yes, caffeine makes you pee more. But the amount of fluid you actually lose because of this diuretic effect is so small that it's insignificant.)
Don't hesitate to drink water and other fluids because you're afraid of retaining water, either. Oddly enough, the more fluids you drink during pregnancy, the less your body retains. So if your feet and ankles are swollen, drinking more water actually helps.
Water carries nutrients through your blood to your baby, and drinking plenty of fluids helps prevent dehydration, too. This is especially important in the last trimester, when dehydration can cause contractions that can trigger preterm labor.
Water also helps prevent some common pregnancy problems such as constipation, hemorrhoids, and bladder infections (drinking water helps dilute your urine, which reduces your risk of infection).

If you need to drink more fluids, you don't want extra calories, and you don't like the taste of water, try adding a wedge of lemon or lime to your water, or a little juice, for additional flavor. If you're not sure how much water you drink each day, fill a container with your target amount and try to finish it by the end of the day.






Dangers:
However, there is a different story emerging, especially amongst people who exercise. According to researchers almost as many exercisers are putting their health at risk by over-consuming water as drinking too little.
Drinking water at every opportunity can cause serious problems, such as hyponatraemia or water intoxication. As the water content of the blood increases, the salt content is diluted. Consequently the amount of salt available to body tissues decreases, which can lead to problems with brain, heart and muscle function.