Water

Texas summers can be brutally hot and the month of August has been no exception! Your body depends on water to survive. Every cell in your body needs water to properly function. Without water, the average person can survive for about 3 days.

• Delivering oxygen
• Eliminating waste through urine, stool, and breathing
• Aiding digestion
• Regulating body temperature through breathing and sweating
• Eliminating toxins out of cells
• Lubricating joints

When your body does not get enough water, you become dehydrated. Dehydration is one of the most common and preventable medical conditions. Signs of dehydration include:

• Headaches
• Lack of energy, sluggish or sleepy
• Dizziness
• Dry Mouth
• Constipation
• Decreased and dark urine
• Dry skin
• Feeling thirsty
• Foggy memory
• Irritability

75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated!!! How much water do you need? The amount of water your body requires depends on how active you are, your state of health, and the climate you live in. A quick and easy way to calculate a fair estimate of your total water intake needs is to divide your body weight in half. A 120-pound person requires at least 60 ounces of water a day ( ~ 8 glasses). A 50-pound child requires at least 25 ounces of water a day (~ 3 glasses). Make drinking water fun!

• Add flavor to your water by infusing fresh fruit, veggies, and herbs
• Use free Apps to track your water intake such as “Daily Water”
• Get a fancy water bottle or use a marked water bottle
• Set up a water support group with friends and family

If you would like more information about gastrointestinal (GI) digestive disorders and nutrition in children, please contact Dr. Mona Dave’s Plano Office or Southlake Office.