Second to oxygen, water is the most essential to our survival. Water is necessary for for the proper lubrication of our eyes, joints and skin and our bodies use water for every function from transporting nutrients to maintaining our body temperature.

In order to keep your colon, kidney, liver and spleen healthy and reduce the risk of cancer, we must drink at least the minimum amount of the recommended required water intake each day.  What is the minimum amount of water that we should drink daily???   The Mayo Clinic suggests using the “8×8” formula as a guideline, that is:

8 glasses (8 ounces each) = a minimum of 64 ounces of fluid (water) daily

The amount of water required should be increased if you live in a hot and/or dry climate or exercise a lot. You should make sure that this fluid intake comes from clear water rather than juices, colas or milk.

A more modern formula for calculating the amount of water we should drink takes into account the idea that the amount of fluid needed by an overweight person compared to a thinner person varies. Therefore the following calculation is recommended:  divide your weight by 2 to get the amount of water that your body needs per day.

150 pounds divided by 2 = 75 ounces of water needed dail

260 pounds divided by 2 = 130 ounces of water needed daily

The easiest way to know if you are drinking enough water and whether you are dehydrated is to observe the color of your urine. You are fully hydrated if your urine is a light yellow color or almost clear. You are dehydrated if your urine is darker yellow or amber color. Please note that vitamins that contains riboflavin, can cause your urine to be a bright yellow.

Don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink water – drink it throughout the day.

Cheers to your good health!