Water is just as important to any diet and exercise program as what food you’re putting in your body, if not more important. It aids every aspect of bodily function, from energy production to muscle building! So if whether you’re looking to lose weight, get the most from you workouts, or just stay healthy, you need to make sure you’re well hydrated!
So how much water should you be drinking everyday? And what counts as a serving of water? Do coffee and tea count? And what about fruit?
There isn’t a specific number, but on average men should consume about 128 ounces and women should consume closer to 90 ounces, but that’s including the water content you get from foods, too. Some fruits and vegetables are made of nearly 90 percent water. You can even count tea, coffee and fruit juices, just remember that to watch your caloric intake. If you drank 90 ounces of juice you could be looking at an extra 800 calories! And the same thing goes for black tea and coffee: too much will dehydrate your body, causing the opposite effect of what you’re going for. Water is always the best choice.
If you exercise, whether it’s lifting weights at the gym, running outside, or even cleaning the house or gardening, you need to drink extra water to compensate from that fluid loss – cleaning around the house will definitely work up a sweat! Aim for 12 ounces 30 minutes before exercise, 4-8 ounces during, and another 12 ounces within 30 minutes of completing your workout. Stick to regular water -not sports drinks – unless you’re engaging in intense exercise lasting longer than an hour.
And of course, in hotter temperatures it’s always a good idea to increase water consumption. Even if you aren’t working out, you need extra water to lower your body temperature and replace what you’ve lost from sweating – even if it’s just a little glistening!
