NUTRITION

YOUR WATER NEEDS
by Lauren Braun

Eight 8 ounce glasses of water may be adequate for a sedentary person, but it's probably too little if you are a more active individual. If you exercise 30 to 60 minutes in a day, you should drink twelve to fifteen 8 oz glasses of water throughout the day. Rather than count glasses of water, drink fluids with every meal, first thing in the morning, mid-morning, mid-afternoon and evening. By doing this, your water consumption becomes part of your lifestyle rather than a counting chore. And, it’s true that if you drink water before you eat you will eat less. That’s because as we go through life, we lose the ability to connect with our thirst mechanism. What we think of hunger is often thirst so if you drink before you eat, you find you weren’t really as hungry as you thought, your body was actually craving hydration.

In hot weather, drink a little more than what you are thirsty for so as to protect yourself against dehydration. If you do drink more than your body needs, you'll pass the fluid through your system.

You don't have to restrict your fluid intake to water. Almost any nonalcoholic fluid will provide you with the moisture your body needs to run efficiently. Without hydration you have no chance of burning fat. And that’s important for every body shape and size. Here are some healthy water substitute suggestions: seltzer, juice, herbal tea, lemonade, soups, skim milk, and even soft drinks (in moderation).

Lauren Braun,
Registered Dietitian, L.D.,

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