How much water do I need to be drinking? Well, first off, our bodies are made up of about 80% water. Water helps our cells function which are the basic building blocks of our bodies. It also plays a major role in how our joints, muscles and even brain function perform. Chronic dehydration is a big problem in our society. As chiropractors, we focus on water's importance because dehydration can actually cause pain in the body. Sometimes just drinking more water in itself can help with pain!
Coffee and soda play a part because for many people these are their drinks of choice and they contain caffeine. While these are liquids, the caffeine promotes water loss from the body so it needs to be made up with drinking more water or other healthy non-caffeinated beverages.
So how do I know how much I need? A simple calculation is all it takes: Divide your body weight in half, whatever number you get is how many ounces of a non-caffeinated beverage or more preferably just plain water you should be drinking. We all need a different amount since we all come in different sizes.
Enjoy your water and enjoy your better health!