Welcome back for day two of The Detox Guide to a successful detox! I hope all is going well. Many people ask, how much water should I drink on a detox? The correct answer depends on you, your activities and your environment. The question really is, how much water does your body need?
The body should eliminate 500 milliliters (about 16.9 ounces) of urine daily to carry out the waste products created by your basic metabolic activities in a normal day. So if you only drank a 16.9-ounce bottle of water today, guess what? It’s not enough to support all the other bodily systems that need water . . . in addition to the basic elimination requirements.
Water is life. We cannot live without it. Every system in the body depends on it. And, its benefits are endless. From MindBodyGreen.com, here are just a few:
Water…
Increases energy and relieves fatigue.
Promotes weight loss.
Flushes out toxins.
Improves skin complexion.
Helps to maintain regularity.
Boosts immune system.
Helps relieve and prevent dehydration headaches.
Prevents cramps and sprains.
Helps to cushion joints and lubricate mucous membranes.
Helps to regulate body temperature.
Maintains blood volume, influencing blood pressure.
Drinking plenty of fresh water is especially important during detox. For starters, even slight dehydration can interfere with the kidneys’ function of purifying the blood efficiently. A lack of water flushing the liver’s tissues interferes with the ability to remove toxins. You naturally support the main detoxification organs by drinking plenty of quality water.
Start a journal and record your intake every day; it will help keep you on track!
In order for water to help us detox properly, it should be pure and plentiful … chlorinated tap water and bottled water would not be my first choices. As a general rule, the Institute of Medicine recommends:
* Men should try to drink about 13 cups of total fluids (proper fluids) a day
* Women should aim for 9 cups a day
Keep in mind that you may need to modify your fluid intake depending on: the intensity of your exercise; what climate you live in; your health status; whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding; or whether you are on certain medications.
To help you get adequate water down each day, I thought I’d share an interesting tidbit I saw on a poster from Integrative Nutrition titled, 10 Healthy Ways to Invigorate your Water. It had 10 wholesome ingredients highlighted that could be used to make daily hydration more fun and easy to swallow. None of these are probably surprising, but may be helpful to increase intake:
Cucumber
Fresh mint
Lemon or lime
Ginger
Berries
Cinnamon
How’s that for a nice twist on plain old boring water! A few years ago, I bought one of those infusion pitchers with a perforated center tube to hold fruits and veggies. It really is a super cool idea. The water flows thru the tube, but the pulp of the food stays in the tube making pouring water easy.
Another option is adding Lemon Stevia to your water for a little flavor and sweetness without calories.
Water is especially important before, during and after exercise. Remember to replenish water supply lost not only through perspiration, but also through breath, urine and bowel movements.
Imagine all of the functions of water in our bodies: cell life, chemical and metabolic reactions, transport of nutrients, body temperature regulation and elimination of waste! Support the detox process by getting all of the water you need.
Tomorrow’s topic will be elimination during detox.
Good luck with your efforts today!
