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How Much Water Do You Need?
A common question that many people ask is: how much water is really needed to be hydrated? Do other beverages count toward hydration?
How Much Water Do You Need to Drink?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer for how much water everyone needs. Generally, you probably have enough fluids if you’re drinking between 25 and 50 percent of your body weight in ounces. So, if you weigh 150 pounds, you’d want to aim for between 38 and 75 ounces per day.
If you are a highly active person, you’ll probably need more. The same is true if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
You don’t only have to drink water, though. You can also meet your body’s hydration needs by consuming herbal teas, green tea, and bone broth.
How to Support Hydration
The real question, though, isn’t about the number of ounces you take in. It’s about whether you’re giving your body what it needs to get water in and out of your cells. Electrolytes are nutrients that facilitate this process. If you consume enough fluids but don’t have proper electrolyte balance, your body will still experience the signs of dehydration.
If your cells can’t get the fluids that they need because you don’t have enough electrolytes or your electrolytes are not balanced, you may feel fatigue, have headaches, experience poor immunity, or have brain fog.
To support healthy hydration, you need to drink enough fluids, but you also need to make sure that you’re eating foods that contain electrolytes, including sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
Foods that are excellent sources of electrolytes include:
- Sea salt
- Poultry
- Seafood
- Avocado
- Spinach, kale, and other dark leafy greens
- Broccoli, cauliflower, and other cruciferous vegetables
- Watermelon
- Strawberries, blueberries, and other berries
- Oranges and other citrus fruits
- Bananas
- Milk and yogurt
Electrolytes are found in healthy foods that you eat, and when combined with enough fluids, your body’s cells will have the raw materials that they need to function optimally.
Today’s Simple Step
While fluid intake alone isn’t enough to manage your hydration, it’s the most important starting place for most people. Once you figure out whether you need to regularly drink more ounces per day, you can then focus on ensuring that you’re consuming plenty of electrolyte nutrients to support a healthy balance. (We’ll talk more about electrolyte nutrients, like magnesium and potassium, in future blog posts.)
Today’s Recipe
Beef Bone Stock is a great way to support your body’s hydration needs. It’s also a great source of nutrients to support gut health and immunity. Sip on it as an alternative to drinking plain water or herbal tea. You can also make bone broth with any type of bones you have, including chicken, turkey, or fish.