Today, many people are under the misconception that consuming eight cups of water per day is the only way to achieve proper hydration levels. However, as Ellie Krieger wrote in a recent Washington Post article, there are a number of myths surrounding water intake. So, how much water do you really need to thrive?
Debunking the Myth on Proper Hydration Levels
Proper hydration on a daily basis is crucial for overall health, as water plays a role in virtually every single one of the body's systems and processes. The average person loses three quarts of water every day and as such, replenishing that supply is vital. Without consuming enough water, feelings of thirst, weakness and exhaustion can set in.
"The average person loses three quarts of water each day."
To maintain adequate levels of hydration and prevent dehydration, the Hallelujah Diet advises the consumption of approximately 1/2 of your body weight in ounces of liquid per day. This dispels that notion that each person needs to drink eight glasses of water per day. The truth is that a number of factors influence just how much you need to drink to maintain a healthy level of water within the body. In addition to overall health and weight, diet, amount of activity, environmental temperatures and humidity can all play a roll in optimal water consumption.
Sources of Hydration
Hydration involves much more than just your water intake. As the aforementioned Washington post article noted, the foods that you consume can help you maintain proper levels of hydration. In fact, about 20 percent of water intake on average comes from the fruits and vegetables that you eat as these plant-based foods are composed of up to 90 percent water themselves. This is where the highest quality of water comes from, according to our experts.
However, it is important to highlight the importance of eating primarily raw plant-based foods: Cooking food above 107 degrees reduces the amount of water within that fruit or veggie. Hydrating liquid can also be consumed through Hallelujah Diet's vegetable juices.
The Importance of Purified Water
Another myth is that all water is equal: it's not. Regular tap water contains fluoride, chlorine, heavy metals and a number of other chemicals and toxins. Thus, purifying drinking water prior to consumption is vital. This can be done through a water distiller such as the Waterwise 8800 Deluxe Water Distiller. It's important to keep in mind though that in addition to removing the unwanted toxins, distilling your water also removes hard-to-absorb chemicals.
Thus, the next step is to fortify your water. According to thorough testing completed by Hallelujah Diet research director Dr. Michael Donaldson, the Hallelujah Diet product HydroBoost can help to alkalize water, improve essential mineral content greatly and enhance the ability of water to increase hydration within the cells.To read more on water purification and hydroboosting, be sure to check out this blog post and watch Dr. Donaldson's webinar on water research.
Key Takeaways:
- On average, a person who expends roughly 2,000 calories per day needs seven to 11 cups of water daily.
- The amount of water consumed each day should be a 1/2 ounce of high quality fluid per pound of body weight.
- Purify and fortify your tap water.
