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The power of water: Rethink your drink

Posted on August 27, 2009August 27, 2009 by Staff

By Debra J. Barksdale

I have just returned from my vacation near Niagara Falls. I stayed in a town called Welland that had a river and three canals. I frequently thought about all that water. We had just missed a season of heavy rains, and every living plant was lush and vibrant. In addition, the power of water rushing over the falls created a heavy mist that might as well have been called rain, except that it did not originate from the sky. Our boat ride near the falls of course resulted in a good soaking through our flimsy plastic rain capes.

Water has power. It cleanses, refreshes and causes growth. If water has such an impact on the outside, I believe that it can also have a profound impact on the inside of our bodies, which are, after all, 50 to 75 percent water (10 to 12 gallons). Water helps our bodies function properly. Every organ and system in the body needs water to wash out toxins, transport nutrients to the cells and provide a moist environment for certain tissue and organs, such as the eyes, ears, nose and throat. Proper hydration has a lot of benefits, such as: (1) improving mental processing, (2) helping with weight control, (3) improving skin condition, (4) reducing headaches and light headedness associated with dehydration and (5) improving fatigue and muscle weakness, among others.

Unlike the seemingly endless flow of water over Niagara Falls, our bodies’ water must be replenished. The American Dietetic Association recommends that we drink about eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. This seems like a lot of water, but there are many ways to get the water that our bodies so desperately need to remain healthy.

Don’t wait until you are dehydrated to get the proper amount of fluid and don’t use thirst as indicator of how dehydrated you are. Drink before you become thirsty because “feeling thirsty” may not be a reliable indicator in certain people, particularly those who are frequently dehydrated. A better indicator of hydration is to make sure you are putting out enough urine every day. The average adult produces about 6.5 cups of urine per day, which should be odorless and slightly yellow.

Now is a good time to “Re-Think Your Drink.” Join me in drinking more water. I admit that water is not my drink of choice, so I have to replace my drink now that I have spent so much time rethinking it. Consider having a big glass of water in the morning when you wake up. Many glasses hold 12 to 16 ounces, so you will get almost a quarter of the daily requirement at the start of your day.

You can find other helpful tips and resources for rethinking your drink at co.orange.nc.us/health/Re-thinkYourDrink.asp. On this site, sponsored by the Eat Smart Move More Orange County Campaign and Healthy Carolinians of Orange County, you will learn more about the difference between healthy and non-healthy drinks, smart drinking choices and smart drinks for a healthy weight.

A few of those tips:
Choose power drinks like water, milk and juice instead of soft drinks.

Drink in the morning: pour a glass of water, juice or milk.

Drink all day: keep a water bottle handy in the car and at home, work or school.

Drink water before, during and after activity.

Why stop with rethinking your drink? To learn more about how to improve your health and move more where you live, work, pray and play, visit Eat Smart, Move More Orange County at co.orange.nc.us/health/ESMMOC.asp

(If you have a medical condition that causes you concern about your fluid intake, please contact your health care provider. Excessive thirst and urination may indicate a more serious medical condition.)

Debra J. Barksdale is an associate professor in the UNC School of Nursing and a member of Healthy Carolinians of Orange County.

2 thoughts on “The power of water: Rethink your drink”

  1. Pingback: Re-think Your Drink: SON Faculty Member Touts Benefits of Water « Carolina Nursing News
  2. JJV says:
    August 28, 2009 at 5:11 am

    Awesome idea Debra. Just remember not to purchase products in plastic bottles. Protect the Earth!

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