Proper Hydration Is the Key to Improved Health
Chris D. Meletis, ND (with permission from cpmedical.net, access pin: 587556)
Over the last 20 years, patients have routinely asked me, “What supplements and foods should we be eating?” What they routinely fail to ask is how much liquid should be consumed on a daily basis. There is controversy on the precise amount, ranging from 64 ounces (2 liters) of water and non-caffeinated herbal teas to 1 ounce per pound of body weight.
I personally encourage my patients to target 64 ounces of clear liquids, realizing that additional fluids are consumed when one eats at least the minimum recommended 5 to 7 servings of fruits and vegetables along with other foods. The sad fact is that only 11 percent of Americans consume the governmentally recommended 5 to 7 servings of fruits and vegetables, so that leaves a void relative to proper hydration, not only from pure water content, but also mineral intake, particularly the potassium abundant in fresh produce.
Although controversy surrounds the topic of whether caffeine causes significant loss of water, most people who drink caffeinated beverages note within 30 to 60 minutes an increased urination urge that is accompanied by increased volume.