I spoke with Washington-based esthetician Cassandra Lanning to learn the facts, bust some myths and discover how to get the most out of your H20.
How we drink can make a difference in how optimally we hydrate our body. A lot of people sip liquids, but gulping is better. Gulps of fluid leave the stomach more rapidly. It’s important to do this. It seems counterintuitive, it seems like gulping would cause a cramp. People are more likely to have stomach cramps sipping because fluid stays in their gut too long.
When you take more fluid in, gulps as opposed to sips, you have a greater volume of fluid in the stomach. That stimulates the activity of the stretch receptors in the stomach, which then increase intra-gastric pressure and promote faster emptying. This is why gulping is preferred.
When Not Working Out
You can sip, in order to get the nutrients of your food. Remember when you were younger and your parents wanted you to wait and drink most of your drink after the meal? Turns out they were right. You do need some liquid while you eat, but the majority should be taken afterward.
MYTH: 8-12 ounces a day is a requirement.
According to esthetician Cassandra Lanning, “the standard rule is to drink half your body weight in ounces.” So how does one figure this out? Well consider this: I weigh 140 lbs and I aim to drink 8-9 cups of water. The way I came to this conclusion is dividing my weight by 2 (70 oz) and then converting that into cups. There are 8 oz in a cup so 70 oz divided by 8 oz gives you 8.75 cups of water. This is a more accurate way of measuring the proper amount of water one needs to drink daily. This does away with the “recommended dose,” as those who are heavier need more water intake. My personal suggestion is getting yourself a big bottle that provides you with as close to your daily requirement as possible. Fill it up once or twice and challenge yourself to finish it.
FACT: Coffee drinkers need more water.
This is absolutely a fact. Caffeine is extremely dehydrating and takes away from any bit of water you may intake throughout the day. In order to offset this, it is suggested that you add 1.5 cups of water to your daily dose for every 1 cup of caffeinated beverage you drink. Note that I said caffeinated beverage! This means coffee drinkers are not the only ones at risk. Tea, soda, energy drinks, etc. count, too!