Getting proper hydration is essential for one’s overall health and well being. According to an article posted by the Mayo Clinic, men typically need around 15.5 8oz cups of water per day and women need approximately 11.5 daily cups. Granted, these figures account for ALL of the water one should be consuming, which includes fluids from both foods and beverages. In other words, if you eat an apple, that counts towards your total daily intake because apples contain water. But given that most people only get about 20% of their daily water needs from food, it’s critically important that you drink enough water throughout the day.
Water, after all, may be the single most important thing you consume every day, so don’t let your daily hydration habits slide. Why is water so important? That same article posted by the Mayo Clinic explains that “every cell, tissue and organ in your body needs water to work properly.” And according to The Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute, the importance of drinking water and maintaining healthy hydration habits directly impacts our immune systems. As stated in their article from April 2020, “our immune system is highly dependent on the nutrients in our blood stream, and our blood stream is made mostly of water! If we don’t have enough water, we cannot properly transport nutrients to each organ system. Staying well hydrated is also very important for detoxification pathways, increasing lymphatic draining and making sure we are clearing out any foreign invaders and other waste materials. Dehydration can contribute to muscle tension, headaches, low serotonin production and digestive issues.”
Despite the importance of staying properly hydrated, it’s estimated that 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. This is a serious problem, but the good news is that it’s relatively easy to remedy. Of course, the simple solution is to just drink more water. But doing so often requires building a new healthy habit around hydration. You need to train yourself to think about drinking more water. One effective way to do this is with a water tracking app that you can download to your phone. Here are a few that are worth a look:
- Plant Nanny
- Waterlogged
- Daily Water Tracker Reminder (Apple or Android)
- Hydro Coach
The message is clear. In order to stay healthy, live optimally, and maintain strong immunity, it’s imperative that we all drink enough water. And given the fact that many people find plain water to be, well, a bit boring, RDCL developed delicious, functional hydration drinks called Radical Elements that give your water a serious upgrade! They’re purposeful superfood blends that turn ordinary water into super-water. One way or another, be sure to give your mind and body the water it needs. It’s without a doubt one of the best things you can do for yourself.
By Donny Makower, a Seriously Radical Founder
