Tag: Health

Healthy Hydration

Previously I wrote about the money saved by being healthy. One of the cheapest and best ways to improve overall health is to be properly hydrated.  Adequate fluid intake is obtained from consumption of both liquids and from food, particularly water dense foods which include fruits and vegetables.  Water is the main source of hydration which is readily available, cheap, and easily accessible to the population. There are water fountains, bottles of water, and most homes have running water.  Water helps to maintain your body’s temperature, lubricate the joints throughout your body, rids wastes from the body through the excretion of urine, bowels, and perspiration, and adds cushioning to organs and vital tissues of the body.  Other benefits may include weight loss through decreasing caloric intake. Water also increases exercise performance by delaying muscle fatigue during working out.

There are some out there who don’t like the taste of water or live in areas where the water is just horrific.  Don’t give up, there is hope. There are several ways to create great tasting water with little effort and low cost.  If you purchase water from the store, I recommend purchasing the largest size available. These tend to be less expensive per ounce and if your local store has a water fill up station, then you really save on money as the price for filtered water is quite reasonable for a gallon or five gallon.  The water where we currently live is awful so we purchase drinking water. Water refills are .25￠ for per gallon. If it weren’t for the horrendous taste of the water I would use the tap water. For those that don’t like the taste of water in general there are ways to spruce up your water with quick and easy ingredients.  

  • Lemon or lime wedge
    • If you are cooking with a lemon or lime, lightly score the rind and places in the water,  it will add lemon or lime flavor without using the juice.
  • Sprig of Rosemary or Lavender if you are cooking a dish that requires the herb.
    • The herb is readily available and just place it in the cup allowing the flavors to infuse the water.
  • Cucumber
    • Cucumbers ends can be used or even the skin that is left over from a salad.
  • Berries   
    • Muddle berries that aren’t going into your dish of choice.  This releases the flavors and adds sweetness to the water.

Ingredients can be added from a variety of different sources and I would encourage you to get creative.  Who knows what may happen and what new flavors you can create with what’s on hand. You also cut down on any excess food waste which may have been produced from cooking so win for waste reduction, win for taste, and a win for the budget.

So, how much water should you drink to be properly hydrated?  The National Academies of Sciences Engineering Medicine recommends healthy women consume 2.7 liters (11.4 cups) and healthy men consume 3.7 liters (15.6 cups) of water a day.  Keep in mind that these are just averages and other factors may influence how much water you may need to consume. These can include age, physical activity levels, climate and altitude, sickness, women who breastfeed, and any number of influences not mentioned.  It is also important to note that it is possible to drink too much water may become life threatening just as dehydration can become life threatening. So stay balanced when it comes to water. A good measure is to drink when you are thirsty and to listen to your body.

A hydrated body is a healthy body and a healthy body is a body that doesn’t miss out on work and doesn’t have to visit the doctor.  So, stay hydrated, your body and your wallet will thank you.

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