Drinking Water
@belindayhughes (1096)
United States
January 5, 2013 4:40pm CST
I am trying to drink more water in 2013. It is recommended that you drink eight 8oz glasses of water daily for optimum health. Ideally, that count should be only pure water and not included other liquids, such as milk, coffee, tea, soda or energy drinks. I no longer drink milk in my pursuit of veganism, and I've given up energy drinks because the expense adds up and they can contribute to dental problems. I'm not big on coffee, except as cafe au lait or cappuccino, so that's no problem. My problem is tea. Although it's considered a clear liquid and is mostly water, the tea itself has ups and downs. The ups are that the tannins can be good for your teeth and the astringent properties help break down fats in the digestive process. The downside is that both black tea and green tea contain caffeine. Even the decaffeinated versions contain some amount of it. While caffeine does energize me, it also has dehydrating characteristics. There are herb teas, but I don't have any on hand right now that I like. So I try not to drink too much of the regular tea. My main reason for drinking the tea is to get warm and wake up. Meanwhile, I refill two water bottles through the day and place them at my dining table/desk. I drink those between cups of tea to make my goal and balance the tea's effects. Hopefully, I will re-establish my good water drinking habit and be healthier in 2013.
2 people like this
9 responses
@airasheila (5454)
• Philippines
6 Jan 13
hello there,
that was a good step to make. drinking a lot of liquids especially water is really good for the health. same as you are, i do also observed taking at least 8 glasses of water everyday but, there are times, i neglect to attain it.
2 people like this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
6 Jan 13
Hi airasheila, and thanks for contributing to this discussion. It is easy to get dehydrated in extreme weather, like summer and winter. In winter, your skin is dehydrating from the heating devices and in summer your body is dehydrating from the oppressive heat from Mother Nature. Although we can rehydrate with lotions and moisturizers, the ultimate best way is to drink water.
@heaytheblogger (2876)
• Philippines
15 Jan 13
I don’t normally drink coffee or carbonated beverages mainly because if you put a lot of carbonated intake, you know that it’s not good for the body. And if you put in more coffee intake, though they are anti-oxidants it’s quite diuretic and I can’t put coffee in my system since it isn't prescribed by my doctor.
I love drinking water it’s my staple liquid. And it’s more healthy, water has been proven a natural cleansing agent, so by consuming it on a daily basis will give more beneficial health factors.
1 person likes this
@heaytheblogger (2876)
• Philippines
17 Jan 13
Thanks for your response, My Doctor told me not to drink coffee since it will just make my UTI worse. so, by drinking water it makes my system stimulate a more balanced urine tracking.
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
17 Jan 13
That's usually the way of treating UTI. Have you tried a little baking soda in water to alkalinize?
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
16 Jan 13
Hello heay, and thanks for joining in here. I've heard of doctors prescribing coffee for the elderly to stimulate elimination, but have yet to hear it prescribed for the young. Considering other points of view, Harvard graduate and noted author Dr. Andrew Weil recommends a daily cuppa, while most literature on menopause suggests that women going through the change avoid caffeine, yet a popular combination supplement contains caffeine. Water is always a wonderful go-to beverage. I'm sure there's more that it does that we simply haven't discovered yet. I hope that modern researchers can find a viable solution to the dwindling supplies of this precious resource. Cheers!
@agent807 (751)
• United States
17 Jan 13
I have been drinking a lot of water myself. Most of the time, I buy bottled water because I can carry it with me, it usually taste better, and for me, the bottle I drink out of is a gallon jug. I didn't use to drink a lot of water, but now, I just buy the gallon jug and drink from it. I drink about 2 of these a day, 3 when the weather is warm. Because I am a big guy, I work hard, and play hard, drinking a gallon has become easy for me. It doesn't feel like it's a lot actually, but I am not a normal person. The only downside is that I wish I can find more reusable jugs since with my levels of consumption, the amount of plastics jugs I have to recycle a week looks like something a family might go through in that period of time, if not more. I also do this to milk also, I just don't drink as much, but it helps after moving heavy stuff all day.
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
17 Jan 13
Hey agent, and thanks for joining in. Sounds like you've got your water consumption routine down. Maybe look into the sturdy blue plastic jugs at the refill station inside WalMart, usually near restrooms or layway.
@agent807 (751)
• United States
22 Feb 13
I forget about those blue containers that they sell by the water dispensers. I like the ones that Whole Foods sell, they're nice and sturdy as well. I used to have a stockpile of those around, and they were nice that they could be cleaned easily for reuse. The conventional jugs on the shelf aren't so reusable, since they tend to break down, and make the liquid taste like the plastic. Ugh! The next time I load up, I have to remember to buy those jugs. Thanks for reminding me. I still have the jugs to deal with because I drink a lot of milk, however, not that it is a bad thing, hehehehe.
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
23 Feb 13
Hi agent. There so many container options out there for those of us who like and want to drink water. I'm at a point where I need to giveaway some containers to family, because I have too many beyond my own water drinking consumption.
@echoforever (5180)
• United States
17 Jan 13
I'm going to take you up on this too. Starting today I am going to drink more water as well. I need to get more healthy and feel better and I know in the past I have drank more water and I felt a lot better than I have in the present.
Best of luck in this and cheers with some water to start!
1 person likes this
@echoforever (5180)
• United States
17 Jan 13
I have a glass of tea now which has water in it... 
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@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
17 Jan 13
Hey echo, and thanks for posting. Congratulations on starting your own water challenge. Cheers to you as well!
@katanncooper (275)
• Greenwood, Indiana
15 Jan 13
I am starting to drink more water. I was drinking the right amount, then stopped. Still drinkng the same things used to, just less of them.
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
15 Jan 13
Hello, katann, and thank you for joining in. It's interesting how we get distracted periodically from our right amount in the course of life. But nice that we can always resume it successfully if we only choose to do so.
@katanncooper (275)
• Greenwood, Indiana
16 Jan 13
I have done better this week, than I did last week.
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
14 Jan 13
Welcome, ksktika, and thanks for joining us. Green tea is so delicious on its own, that should be no problem. It has antioxidants, too, to improve health. Cheers!
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
14 Jan 13
What's your favorite type of green tea? Gunpowder, herb blends or plain bag? Cheers!
@IntrovertShy (2780)
• Marikina, Philippines
10 Jan 13
Oh my gosh. I thought drinking too much tea is fine but you said, black tea and green tea contain caffeine. Is it apply to all tea? There are different types of herb tea. Hmmm... I am going to drink water too, an 8 glasses of water. How I wish I could do that.. ha ha.
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
10 Jan 13
Welcome, Introvert, and thank you for your kind response. As someone once wisely said, "Moderation in all things." Have a great day!
@stary1 (6612)
• United States
14 Jan 13
belindayhughes
Good for you ..water is excellent for you. I try to drink 6 to 8 glasses a day..I have water bottles that hold 24 oz....so I try to drink 2 or 3 per day.
I had a hard time switching from diet soda to water..What finally worked for me was when I would be extremely thirsty I reached for water not coke..eventually the association of pleasure and drinking water kicked in and now I love water...
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
15 Jan 13
That's a great technique, stary1. It's wonderful that you know yourself so well. I've never been big on diet soda, just used sodas as a pleasure crutch during a rough period, but boy did I gain inches then!
@Lonieliest1 (42)
• Jamaica
10 Jan 13
It depends on the herbal teas you get as well, and hopefully the water you're taking in is Room temperature so your body doesn't have to work hard in getting it to your temperature as that takes energy away from elsewhere. Remember to check your urine as well, many people think the natural colour of urine is yellow, Check it to ensure your water consumption is right and also how your body operates, it feels more refreshed and your sweat is not as nasty as it could be. As some friends of mine when they sweat the salt literally dries up on them after D: . But good luck, As I too Drink the recommended amount. in hopes of balancing my body.
1 person likes this
@belindayhughes (1096)
• United States
10 Jan 13
Welcome, Lonieliest1, and thanks for your kind response. I've heard that room temperature is indeed best, that too hot in winter or too cold in summer can be unhealthy. You could be right. How interesting about your friends and their salting up. Fascinating. Cheers!
