Downloading a water tracking app for your smartphone may help you find an answer
With the heat and humidity of the summer months now upon us, it is important to stay properly hydrated. What is the best way of doing this? By drinking enough water. It may sound like a no-brainer, but since the amount of water we drink is not usually kept at the forefront of our thoughts it is not uncommon for people to consume an inadequate volume on a day-to-day basis.
Water is a key component in the composition and life of each cell in our bodies, and it aids in all of the essential bodily functions. It allows us to regulate our internal temperature through sweat and respiration, flushes waste and toxins from our systems, assists in digestive processes, and transports metabolized nutrients and fresh oxygen throughout the bloodstream. The adult human body is composed of roughly 60 per cent water, and it requires a certain amount of fluid intake each day to replace what is lost in order to work.
Contrary to popular belief, the commonly prescribed water intake of eight glasses per day is not the perfect “one-size fits all” that we have been lead to believe. Similar to how the amount of food that you need to eat in order to properly fuel your body is determined by the individual in question, the proper amount of fluid that you should be supplying your body with can also vary. This can be contingent upon a number of factors such as the weather, which can have a marked effect on how much fluid you need to consume. Other factors may include your age, sex, weight, and level of physical activity.
According to the Dietitians of Canada guidelines, it is generally recommended that women who are 19 years of age or older aim for a daily fluid intake of nine cups (2.2 litres), while men who are 19 years or more should aim for a daily fluid intake of 12 cups (3 litres). This fluid may come from water alone, but can also be gained through consumption of fruits and vegetables, coffee, tea, soups and broths, milk, and rice or soy beverages.
If you think that you are not meeting the daily recommended fluid intake, or are curious as to just how much fluid you are actually supplying your body with, then perhaps downloading a water tracking app onto your smartphone is something you may want to think about doing.
Waterlogged is one of many apps that have been made free to download on iTunes, and has been given a four out of five star rating in the App Store. For Android users, Hydro Coach is another free smartphone app that is available, and has been given a 4.6 out of five star rating in the Google Play Store.
These applications are designed with your health in mind and can often be tailored to your individual bodily statistics. They can provide you with charts to help record daily and weekly hydration levels as well as multiple modifiable day-to-day reminders to ensure that you do not become dehydrated. So, whether you own an iPhone or an Android, with the introduction of an app that can help you keep track of how much water you need, there really is no excuse for not keeping your body properly hydrated.