“Do you like water? If so, you’ll like 80% of my body!” — said the least original pick-up artist ever.
Our beautiful earth is full of many bodies of water, and one of those bodies is yours! That’s right, your body is made up of mostly water, however, despite what the pickup line suggests, your body is not quite 80% water.
“There is variability based on age and fat content/lean body mass, but the human body is made up of about 60% water.” — Dr. Michael Gabor
It’s no surprise that staying hydrated is essential for staying happy and healthy. As the sun comes out and you embark on yet another epic outdoor adventure, be sure to bring a water bottle or two with you. Even if you aren’t thirsty at the moment.
Staying hydrated is about more than just drinking liquids to quench your thirst while you exercise. Consistently drinking a healthy amount of water each day can reduce the chances of you becoming dehydrated. So just how much water should you be drinking each day?
“A general recommendation for an adult is at least eight 8oz glasses of water per day. You may become dehydrated and fail to detoxify correctly with inadequate fluid intake.” — Dr. Heidi Fowler
Of course, we are all human, and sometimes drinking 8 glasses of water a day isn’t top of mind. There are a few things that can signal dehydration and it’s best to recognize these signs early so you can get your watery fix. According to Dr. Avashia, urine color is a great indicator of hydration status.
“You urine color is a good indication of hydration status. The less hydrated you are, the more yellow your urine is. If you are well hydrated, urine is pale yellow to colorless.” — Dr. Swati Avashia
Hopefully you drink enough water each day to avoid dehydration, however if you notice that your urine is more yellow than normal, grab a glass of H2O and start drinking!
Author: Maya Gilliss-Chapman
