
Let's look at the first step in balancing blood sugar: drinking more
water. And I know it seems obvious. But trust me, this goes a long way
because, keep in mind, there's an enormous gulf between knowing and doing. We
might know, oh, yeah, yeah. I need to drink water. OK, but let's look at
why and let's look at whether we are doing it or not doing it.
The adult human body is 55% to 60% water. And did you know-- factoid-- if
you choose water over a 20-ounce soda, that's going to save you 240
calories. And water doesn't just hydrate you. It helps flush toxins out of your
system. It helps balance hormones. It helps reduce inflammation. Of course, it
regulates blood sugar. That's why we're discussing it.
The primary way that water helps balance blood sugar is by helping us decrease
cravings and increase energy. If you're not drinking enough water, things will
feel wonky in your body. And you're not going to feel good. But instead of
reaching for a glass of water, many people feel like, oh, I need something, a pick me up.
We use sugar or caffeine to feel better because our bodies are
looking for a fast fix. If you stay hydrated, you'll have fewer cravings and feel less exhausted, making you less likely to crave processed refined
sugar and caffeine that'll have you spin out.
Plus, water has a host of other benefits. Keeping the fluid balance of the body.
Carrying nutrients. Flushing bodily waste. Keeping your kidneys healthy.
Keeping moisture-rich organs like our skin, eyes, mouth, and nose
functioning well. Lubricating and cushioning joints. Helping clear skin.
Preventing muscle cramps. Regulating body temperature and metabolism.
Reducing inflammation and slowing the signs of aging. It's a good thing to
drink water.
So, how do you know if you are not drinking enough water? Well, if you're not
going to the bathroom, or when you do, your urine is dark, you're
probably not drinking enough water. If you're feeling dizzy, if you're having
rapid breathing, rapid heartbeat, if you have dry skin if you're
feeling lethargic or lack of energy, fainting, mental fogginess-- those are signs
that you might not be drinking enough water.
Most health experts say to drink half your body weight in ounces of
water. So, if your body weight is 150 pounds, then you might drink around 75
ounces of water per day. The amount you drink also depends on how much
you work towards. If you have not been drinking alot of water you may have to work up to the amount you need. Start at your average amount for the next week and add 8 ounces the following week; keep adding 8 ounces until you are at the level you need to be.
How much you drink may also depend on your activity level. If you're
sweating a ton, you may need to drink more. It may also depend on how
much caffeine or alcohol you drink in a day because both of those are
dehydrating. So, if you do high levels of activity and have high levels of
caffeine and alcohol, you might need more water. If you live in a stinking hot
desert, you might need a little more water.
So, the bottom line is, how do I know when I'm hydrated? There's a straightforward way
to tell, which we already discussed-- check out your pee. The light side if you're drinking enough water. If your urine is dark and there isn't much of it, you're probably not drinking enough, so drink more. You're drinking enough if you're going to the bathroom every two to three hours, about. If you're going constantly, you're either drinking too much
water or gradually rising. When you're increasing your water intake,
you will pee more. That's how it's going to go. But that won't last forever.
Your body will adjust.
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