Whether you are recovering from an injury or just looking to be healthier, proper hydration is an absolute must. The purpose of this blog is to not only discuss the benefits of proper hydration, but also to discuss tips to ensure you are drinking enough water throughout the day.
The benefits of hydration are extensive, but some of the biggest benefits include: improved body temperature regulation, improved delivery of oxygen and nutrients to cells, increased joint lubrication, and proper digestive system function. All of these are beneficial for the general population, which is why making sure you drink enough is a recommendation for all people.
This recommendation is even more important for people who are recovering from injury because of the benefits of improved delivery of nutrients and oxygen to cells. Injured or damaged tissues require more nutrients and oxygen to be able to recover so, if you are dehydrated and attempting to recover from an injury, you are putting yourself at a disadvantage in allowing your tissues to repair. It is generally recommended that people who are recovering from injury actually drink more water than they normally would, to ensure proper hydration throughout the recovery process.
While it is easy to recommend people drink more water, it is often hard for people to know exactly how much water is enough and how to make sure they drink enough in a day. The best recommendation for daily water intake is 15.5 cups for men and 11.5 cups for women.
Something to keep in mind with this recommendation is that if you drink coffee, you will need to drink more water to offset the diuretic effect of coffee. For each cup of coffee you drink, try to drink an extra cup of water. A great way to keep track of your water intake is to utilize a water bottle with markings for fluid ounces – it helps keep track, so that way you are guessing less about how much you have had to drink.
In conclusion, drinking water has many benefits and it is really important to make sure you are drinking enough water on a daily basis. If you are ever wondering if you are drinking enough water in a day, it is a good idea to just increase your intake to make sure. We like to say if you think you are drinking enough water in a day, you probably need to drink more!
The Balance Chicago Team is here to help you! For more information, or to schedule your appointment, give us a call or click the link above. We look forward to working with you soon!
Blog Written By: Dr. Ryan Smrz, PT, DPT
Sign up below to get updates on special events and learn more about your health.
