How Much Water Should Our Seniors Drink to Stay Healthy?

October 2, 2020 Dominick Manfredo

How Much Water Should Our Seniors Drink to Stay Healthy?

How much water should our seniors be drinking each and every day? It sounds like a simple question, but in reality it’s not so easy to fulfill!

Let’s start off with some facts surrounding the health benefits of drinking enough water. Well, water makes up a majority of your body weight. It is involved in many different functions like flushing waste from your body, regulating your temperature, and even helping your brain function! Water helps form saliva and mucus - saliva will help you digest your food and keep your nose, mouth, and eyes moist, which is very much needed because everyone has experienced dry sinuses and it’s a horrible feeling. Water will also improve your skin health. When you are dehydrated, your skin becomes more vulnerable to damage than if your skin was hydrated. I believe your skin is like a plant - you will always need to water a plant to look beautiful and healthy; well, it is the same way for your skin. Studies have also shown that "just losing 2% of your body weight in fluid can decrease performance by up to 25%. Whether you are an athlete, someone that works out regularly, or a weekend warrior." www.webmd.com Drinking water will genuinely save your body in many aspects.

Now we know all the benefits of drinking water, but the question still is, how much should I drink daily? Well, according to the (mayoclinic.org), "Drinking eight 8- ounce glasses of water a day" is the best way to remember and reach your water-drinking goal. So how do you drink eight, eight-ounce glasses of water every day? Try sipping on some water before every meal; you can add some flavor to your water by squeezing fresh fruits and herbs in. The longer you infuse your water, the better it will taste. When you are in one of those modes when you need something fizzy to drink, try drinking some flavored seltzer water to help get rid of that feeling of needing soda. Also, maybe reward yourself for drinking water and make it a goal every day to get yourself a sweet drink or something from Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks. There are many ways to make it competitive or fun to drink water.

As in saying that, drinking water helps you prevent dehydration. The definition of dehydration is "when you use or lose more fluid than you take in, and your body doesn't have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions." (MayoClinic.org) Studies have also shown that some dehydration symptoms are "feeling very thirsty, dry mouth, dark-colored pee, dry skin, feeling tired, and dizziness." So if you feel any of the symptoms, It is the best time to start drinking water and make sure your body has everything you need to function and feel better about yourself. Make water an option to drink and making it a goal for yourself every day is a great way to better yourself.

Article Written by Kendall X. Hicks II, Wellness Coordinator with The Community at Sunset Wood

Citations

https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/water-for-exercise-fitness#1

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dehydration/symptoms-causes/syc-20354086