Water: The basis of life -- YOURS!

I woke up today completely parched and thought to myself, "What a great fitness topic, WATER CONSUMPTION! 

Did you know that when you feel thirsty your body has already been dehydrated for a while? "

It is imperative to our health and body's proper functioning to hydrate enough and often. So how much water should we be consuming each day? How can we prevent dehydration and what are the risks of it? Well, have no fear because I am here to give you the DL on water's what.

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Water is THE most important thing we humans consume. After all, it makes up 70% of our body! Our muscle tissue is made up of approximately 75% water, thus affecting our body's athletic performance more than any other nutrient. Within our day we should be drinking around 2 to 3 liters of water. Do a quick mental checklist of your day thus far. Have you been drinking enough water throughout your busy day today?  

Here's a friendly tip from me to you on how to drink enough water to prevent dehydration. Carry a full bottle of water with you everywhere you go and sip sip sip away. I recommend investing in a reusable aluminum or stainless steel bottle, such as Sigg or Klean Kanteen brand bottles, so as to be environmentally-friendly.

To further drive home the importance of drinking enough water, risks of dehydration include overheating, fatigue, muscle cramps and spasms, exhaustion, cardiac arrest and even death.   

Water and exercise go hand-in-hand. Fully hydrate well before you go to workout (16 ounces is adequate) and continue to drink throughout your workout (6 to 8 ounces every 15 minutes of cardiovascularly-taxing exercise such as Spinning or Zumba). 

PHEW! Just writing this article has made me crave a cool cup of one right now. Raise your glass with me and have a gulp or two (or three)!