It’s no surprise that it’s crucial to stay sufficiently hydrated each day, especially when out in the scorching summer heat. Most Americans don’t hydrate enough on a daily basis anyway. Hydrating more when we’re losing more water from perspiring is vital.
How Much Water Do We Need a Day?
An easy way to remember how much water to drink is to use this simple formula: drink half your weight in ounces for your body weight in pounds. So, for example, a 100-pound person would need to drink at least 50 ounces of water. If you’re perspiring heavily, it’s important to increase that amount. If you’re in an area of low humidity, whether cold or hot, that can also put an extra demand on your water intake.
What Happens When We Get Dehydrated?
When our body becomes dehydrated many of our functions start to shut down or work at a sub-optimal level. Because our body is composed primarily of water, if we don’t have enough inside the normal body processes begin to degrade. Here are some signs of dehydration:
- Extreme thirst
- Less frequent urination
- Dark-colored urine
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Confusion
Why the Source of Water Matters
Tap water. Bottled water. Sports drinks. You may be wondering which to drink to stay hydrated. The source of water is very important. We recommend that you always drink a purified source of water whenever possible. That’s because municipal water supplies tend to be full of impurities and chemicals that the body has to detoxify. Dr. Goffe recommends that people mainly drink filtered water.
Try Haymaker’s Punch
While water is most important, there are hydration drinks that can be highly helpful. Dr. Goffe doesn’t, however, recommend popular sports drinks because of the types of sweeteners used and added artificial colors.
Instead, try Dr. Goffe’s refreshing and healthy Haymaker’s Punch recipe. This drink was developed in the 1800s for men working out in the fields to rehydrate.
- 1 gallon purified water
- 1 thumb-sized nub of ginger, peeled and chopped
- Juice of 3 lemons and zest one of the lemon skins
- 1 Tbsp blackstrap molasses (optional)
- ¾ cup raw honey
- ¾ cup raw apple cider vinegar
Combine all ingredients in a 1-gallon jar, shake and cap with lid. Refrigerate overnight. Strain and serve.