Under-Water: The Importance of Hydration

Our bodies are mostly made of water, so it is very important to drink plenty of it.  Of course, you need more water when you are exercising or are outside in the hot weather.  Many people believe that all liquids are created equal, but that is not the case! 

Water is the best option for staying hydrated and it is best to get ahead of dehydration through a few simple practices.  These are practices that the whole family can work on together.  After all, children are more likely to copy the habits they learn from their parents/guardians.  Children who are only offered milk and water are more likely to continue the habit throughout their lives.  

The general rule of thumb is that the average person should drink about 2 liters of water every day.  When you look at a 2-liter bottle of soda, that is actually the amount of water you should be drinking.  It is also important to keep in mind that when you are outside in hot weather or exercising, you will need to drink more water.  You can also drink a sports drink, such as Gatorade to replenish your electrolytes, but it is best to drink sports drinks that have little to no food coloring added.  The coloring that is added to sports drinks and sodas contain unwanted chemicals. 

The same goes for diet sodas. Non-diet sodas have a very high amount of sugar added to them and fruit juices are also high in sugar.  Bottled waters are fine, but children and adults benefit more from drinking water that has been treated with fluoride, so if you live within a city that treats the water, you can drink water from the tap.  The American Dental Association claims that treated water can reduce tooth decay by 25%.

Keep in mind that it is possible to consume too much water and that many foods that have a high water content will add to your daily needs.  Too much water intake can bring your sodium (salt) levels too low and can show up with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.  This is called water intoxication and can be very serious.

A fun water activity you can try with your child is to decorate mason jars and have your child pick from different fruits to add to the water for flavor.  They will enjoy finding out how adding lemons, strawberries, or even sliced cucumbers can change the flavor of water. 

Using mason jars can help you keep track of how much water the family is drinking and each person can have his or her own unique jar to make water more interesting!