Summer is here. Construction and home projects are in full swing, and the heat index is climbing. Everyone loves the extended daylight hours and the opportunity to max out productivity. You're getting a lot done, and you're also losing a lot of water in the process. It's critical that you drink more water during these hot and long days. It's easy to stay on task and forget to stay hydrated. But the cost of not staying hydrated is a productivity killer. When your water intake does not equal your output, dehydration sets in. In this article, we'll look at six reasons to make sure you're drinking enough water each day to get through your summer construction and home projects.
Drinking Water Helps Balance Body Fluids
Your body is composed of 60% water. The functions of your body fluids include digestion, absorption, circulation, saliva creation, transportation of nutrients, and maintenance of body temperature. Your brain tells you kidneys how much water to excrete as urine or hold on to for reserves. When you're low on fluids, your brain triggers your thirst mechanism. If you feel thirsty, it's for a reason. Get some water and replenish your body's reserves.
Water Controls Calories
Dieters have been drinking water as a weight loss strategy for years. Water doesn't affect weight loss, but substituting it for high-calorie drinks helps keep weight gain, causing beverages out of your system.
Water Fuels Muscles
Cells that don't maintain their balance of fluids and electrolytes shrivel, and result in muscle fatigue. Drinking enough water is important while doing manual labor and exercising. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that you drink about 17 ounces of water about two hours before physical work. While you're working, start drinking water before you feel thirsty and drink at regular intervals, so your body has what it needs for peak performance.
Water Helps Your Kidneys
Your body fluids transport waste products in and out of cells. The main toxin in the body is called blood urea nitrogen, a water-soluble waste that is able to pass through kidneys and excreted through urine. As long as your intake of fluids is adequate, your kidneys do an amazing job cleansing your body of toxins. If you chronically drink too little, you may be at higher risk for kidney stones.
5 Tips to Help you Stay Hydrated
You know you need to drink more water, but maybe you don’t have a good strategy to make it happen. Here are some tips to make it easy.
- Have some water after every snack and meal.
- Add some lemon into your water if you want some more flavor.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables. Their high water content adds to your hydration.
- Always have a bottle of water with you in your car, at your desk, or in your bag.
- Use an app to remind you. A lot of people are busy and just forget. Apps on smartwatches and smartphones can remind you to drink.
