What did you drink most, when you were growing up?

I remember Kool-aid, milk (I didn’t really like it and still don’t), sweet tea (there was always sweet tea around), and soda (which was an occasional treat). When I was in Jr. High school and babysitting, I would treat myself to Dr. Pepper and Dorados with money I earned. Dr. Pepper was my favorite soda. When my children were growing up, I did the same as most Mom’s do unless life teaches them differently. Sweet tea was always in the refrigerator, Kool-aid, orange juice, milk, and occasionally a soda of some kind for my kids. They would have only wanted soda if I’d allowed it.

WATER wasn’t encouraged….OMG, how crazy is that!

NOW I know how vitally important water is. NOW water is My Drink! Not all water is the same, so I filter it with a Berkey Purification system. It’s easy and I love it.

Water is your body’s principal chemical component and makes up about 60 percent of your body weight. Your body depends on water to survive.

Every cell, tissue, and organ in your body needs water to work properly. For example, water:

· Gets rid of wastes through urination, perspiration and bowel movements

· Keeps your temperature normal

· Lubricates and cushions joints

· Protects sensitive tissues

Lack of water can lead to dehydration — a condition that occurs when you don’t have enough water in your body to carry out normal functions. Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you tired. WHAT?

Can you imagine what life would have been like to have more energy growing up?

Every day you lose water through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. For your body to function properly, you must replenish its water supply by consuming beverages and foods that contain water.

So how much fluid does the average, healthy adult living in a temperate climate need? The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that adequate daily fluid intake is:

· About 15.5 cups of fluids for men

· About 11.5 cups of fluids a day for women

These recommendations cover fluids from water, other beverages, and food. About 20 percent of daily fluid intake usually comes from food and the rest from drinks.

You’ve probably heard the advice, “Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day.” That’s easy to remember, and it’s a reasonable goal.

Most healthy people can stay hydrated by drinking water and other fluids whenever they feel thirsty. For some people, fewer than eight glasses a day might be enough. But other people might need more.

What you eat also provides a significant portion. For example, many fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon and spinach, are almost 100 percent water by weight. LOVE!!

Life teaches us what we need and want to know. I am grateful I kicked the sugary drinks and now love water. One thing that helped me make the shift was adding essential oils to my water, just to add some flavor like lemon, orange, and peppermint. Make sure your essential oils say 100% pure therapeutic grade essential oil supplement. For 20 years I have used Young Living Essential Oils.

It’s okay to take baby steps as long as your intention is better, healthy choices.

You might need to modify your total fluid intake based on several factors:

· Exercise. If you do any activity that makes you sweat, you need to drink extra water to cover the fluid loss. It’s important to drink water before, during and after a workout. If exercise is intense and lasts more than an hour, a sports drink can replace minerals in your blood (electrolytes) lost through sweat.

· Environment. Hot or humid weather can make you sweat and requires additional fluid intake. Dehydration also can occur at high altitudes.

· Overall health. Your body loses fluids when you have a fever, vomiting or diarrhea. Drink more water or follow a doctor’s recommendation to drink oral rehydration solutions. Other conditions that might require increased fluid intake include bladder infections and urinary tract stones.

· Pregnancy or breastfeeding. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding need additional fluids to stay hydrated. The Office on Women’s Health recommends that pregnant women drink about 10 cups of fluids daily and women who breast-feed consume about 13 cups of fluids a day.