Essentially, water helps you do all the things you need to do throughout
your day. Walking, eating, breathing, laughing … every aspect of your life is
touched by water.
Everybody’s body is different
There are times in your life when your body’s need for water might change.
It’s important to be able to identify those times and to respond accordingly.
Pregnancy. It may be a cliché, but you really are drinking water for two.
Your baby needs water to grow and to get a good start in life. For instance,
fluoride is very important to a developing fetus. It helps bones and teeth grow.
(Be aware that not all bottled waters contain the proper amount of fluoride.)
Even after your baby is born, you can help proper bone and tooth development
through the fluoride in your breast milk.
If you’re suffering from morning sickness, dehydration can be a real concern
for you and the baby you’re carrying. So keep drinking a lot of water—both of
you need it.
Childhood. Running, playing, jumping and just plain being a kid is a lot of
activity. Children can lose 1 to 2 quarts of water in just one day, water that
they need to grow big and strong. Help your child develop healthy habits by
making water a part of his or her diet.
Senior years. As you age, your body doesn’t keep you as well informed as
it used to—it may even not tell you when you’re not getting enough water. So
make a point of remembering to drink plenty of water. Water can offer many
health benefits, including helping to prevent kidney stones, helping to ease
constipation, improving the condition of your skin, improving mental sharpness, aiding in digestion and helping circulation.
Cold and flu season. Germs and viruses are out there, and even if you do
everything you can to avoid them, they may still find you. If you find yourself
starting to feel under the weather, turn to a glass of water for help. Hydration
will give you energy and will also help your body to fight illness. And because
dehydration is a side effect of many illnesses, be aware of the symptoms (see
below) and keep drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day.
A thirsty body needs attention
Water is so important that when you don’t get enough of it your entire
system can break down. Dehydration can happen more often when you’re
exercising, if you have an intestinal illness or during hot summer months.
Even eight glasses a day might not be enough, so it’s important to be aware
of the signs and symptoms of dehydration.
