How To Maximize Your Stamina So You Can Keep Up With Your Preschooler
How much water do we really need to stay fully hydrated and keep our bodies running in tip-top shape? It is recommended that adults get eight to ten 8 oz. glasses of water per day which seems like an excessive amount of water. However, our bodies are made up of approximately 60% of water. Therefore, we need to consume quite a bit of water daily to help maintain the water levels in our brains, muscles, blood, skin, and even our bones. We also need to consume water to keep our body temperatures normal, lubricate and cushion our joints, protect our spinal cord and other sensitive tissues, and get rid of waste through urination, perspiration, and bowel movements. Studies have shown that drinking enough water daily can also help you lose excess body fat, increase your mood, and increase your concentration. Every system in the human body depends on water.
So what happens if you don’t consume enough water? Being dehydrated can lead to chronic fatigue, high blood pressure, skin disorders (even premature wrinkling and discoloration), constipation, joint stiffness and pain, weight gain, and more. Also, keep in mind that you may need to consume more than the recommended glasses of water per day if you are in hot/humid weather (hot weather is right around the corner in Tennessee), exercising, running a fever, or having stomach issues.
If you have a difficult time drinking plain water, read through the quick tip section located below for some ways to incorporate more water into your every day life.
QUICK TIPS:
Staying hydrated is key if you want to be able to keep up with your hyper-active preschooler and help your body function like a well oiled machine.
- Add flavor to your water by adding lemons, limes, or berries
- Drink a glass of water after every bathroom trip to get into the habit of drinking water or set another routine time to drink water
- Eat water-rich foods
- Fruits like watermelons, oranges, grapefruit, and other melons
- Vegetables like celery, cucumbers, green peppers, zucchinis, and romaine lettuce
- Oatmeal, yogurt, soup, and smoothies
- Bring a water bottle with you
- You can drink an 8-16 oz. water or an 8-16 oz. diluted juice with every meal and snack. Also, your kids can drink a 4-8 oz. water or a 4-8 oz. diluted juice with every meal and snack.
- Order water when eating out
- Slowly start to replace soft drinks or other beverages with water
Water is calorie-free, caffeine-free, inexpensive, and readily available
Shannon Rainey is the Nutrition Coordinator for Knoxville Head Start.
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