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Drinking Water

star Water is important - It helps keep our bodies healthy

girldrinkingChildren should drink plenty of fluid throughout the day. Water should be the number one choice, but other beverages such as low-fat milk or 100% all natural, unsweetened juice are also wise choices. These drinks help to keep the body hydrated while providing nutrients for good health as well as proper growth and development. It is very important to choose the correct beverage selection for your child! Some drinks are healthy choices, but others are just 'liquid candy' to the children. So, set great habits for your children while they are young and encourage them to drink adequate amounts of water each day.

There is a childhood obesity crisis confronting the youth of the world, and many reports from reputable news organizations are stating liquid candy is a major contributor to this problem. An article from MSNBC suggests that 1 in 5 calories consumed by Americans are from liquids (click here). Other news sources like CNN are reporting that 10% of the American diet comes from liquid sweets (click here). Consumer Reports is taking a more neutral approach by estimating between 10% - 20% of the American diet comes from sweetened drinks (click here). Even though various reports appear to have conflicting numbers, it justifies a reason to be concerned, as the numbers appear to be rising. The Washington Post has stated that soft drink consumption has increased 300% in the last 20 years (click here). The underlying message is to control what your child drinks! Water is a natural choice.

redarrow Remember, 1 in 5 calories consumed by most children is from liquids. This means too many sweetened drinks. Click the 'Benefits' link to understand how water helps our body. There is nothing wrong with some sugary drinks once in a while as longs as it is done in moderation, under parental approval.

bluearrow Check out our video presentation below about the importance of healthy hydration!

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How Much Water Should We Drink?

star Is there a definitive answer? - Some approaches

glassYou can research through various books, articles, studies, or read through the internet, but you will probably not find one definitive answer to the amount of water that needs to be consumed daily. Each parent needs to formulate their own amount needed to satisfy their child's health needs. Make sure they replenish lost water throughout the day, check the color of their urine (more about this below) if possible, and watch what they drink. Below are some common approaches to the amount of water that should be consumed daily. Make your own choice as to which one may apply best to you, or even better, talk to your child's pediatrician for assistance.

redarrow The Body Weight Approach: One formula is to take your body weight in pounds and divide that number in half. That gives you the number of ounces of water per day that you need to drink. For example, if you weigh 100 pounds, you should drink at least 50 ounces of water per day. To many, this formula seems to be too high with regards to how much a child should drink. Setting a goal of one-third your body weight may more realistic.

redarrow The 8/8 Approach: There are many sources that state it is acceptable to drink 8 - eight ounces glasses of water daily. Science Daily reports that drinking 8 - eight ounce glasses a day varies from individual to individual depending on someone's level of physical activity, type of climate, altitude, and overall health (click here).

redarrow bottleThe Input / Output Approach: The average urine output for humans is about 6 -8 cups a day. We may lose another 2-3 cups of water a day through breathing, sweating, and bowel movements. Food (especially fruits and vegetables) usually accounts for 20% of your total fluid intake, so if you consume about 64% of water or other beverages a day along with your normal diet, you will typically replace the lost fluids. Of course, these numbers will vary according to age, gender, activity level, total health, and environment.

redarrow Drink Throughout The Day Approach: Many health professionals just claim that a child should drink plenty of water throughout the day and check the color of their urine. After the first urination of the morning, it should remain colorless the remainder of the day. If it is yellow in color, and you have normal kidneys, that could be a sign that you need to drink more water!

star Summary: Basically, there is no magical formula to how much water you should drink. Keep your body hydrated and choose the right beverages.

Benifits

glassWater plays a big role in maintaining overall good health. Below is a list of what water may do to help keep you healthy. Water is not a medicine but assists your body with its functioning power to prevent or slow down future problems.

star Water removes harmful toxins from the body.

star Water suppresses the appetite.

star Helps keep your energy level up.

star Reduces fluid retention in the body.

star May help relieve headaches by re-hydrating the brain.

star Assists with reducing arthritis.

star Can help prevent infection by strengthening the flow of lymph in the system.

star Water is a great lubricant in the body.

star Can reduce lower back pain.

star Can help with reducing blood pressure.

star Helps prevent cramps during exercise by keeping blood pumped with oxygen.

star waterHelps keep skin hydrated and healthy.

star Can help reduce high cholesterol.

star Can reduce the risks of heartburn and ulcers.

star Can reduce the risks of breast and colon cancer.

star Water helps burn fat as fuel.

star Water moistens tissues in the body.

star Water lubricates the eyes, nose, and mouth.

star Transports nutrients throughout the body.

star Can reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

star Helps regulate body temperature.

star Water carries nutrients and oxygen to the cells.

star Drinking water is essential for weight loss.

star Water helps muscle stimulation.

star Helps out the body with digestion.

star Water helps you perform better during exercise.

star Water helps to regulate your body temperature.

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Facts

redarrowbottle Children should learn the importance of drinking water. The Mayo Clinic reports that 60% of your body weight is water (click here), so it is always very important to replenish your body with the substance. Water energized the body, prevents infections, helps carry oxygen through your bloodstream, regulates your body temperature, and helps you metabolize fat as energy. Many reports state that 80% of your brain is made up of water, so hydrating your body will also keep your brain active and alert. Click here to see an image from the Mayo Clinic which shows the benefits of water on the human body.

redarrow It is very important that your children hydrate throughout the day with water. There is nothing wrong with your child drinking some sugary drinks, but it should be done in moderation. Water is one of the most essential nutrients a living being needs to survive. Nothing can substitute it to help us live productive lives. The majority of the human body is water. It is in your blood, digestive system, and helps keep body parts lubricated. Water also helps to maintain the temperature of the human body. To learn more about why water is essential to human growth and development, please visit the 'Benefits' section.

redarrow Sugary drinks promote more eating. These simple sugars which get consumed in large quantities contain many calories that can not only cause children to become overweight by storing fat but also digest quicker causing a child to become hungry at a faster pace. It also raises the level of blood sugar in the body, which may energize the body, but also drops at a rapid rate causing a child to become tired and sedentary. In this day and age where many children now have Type 2 Diabetes, reducing the sugary drinks may be a wise choice.

redarrow Our bodies like to be at about 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit - or 37 degrees Celsius. If a child is exercising in warm weather, they may feel pretty hot. This is where water comes in, by cooling you down with sweat. When your body generates a lot of heat, water comes up through your skin as sweat, and it evaporates into the air. As the sweat evaporates, it cools down your skin, which cools down a humans blood. When your blood is cooler, your insides become cooler, and your whole body cools down. On a regular day, your body loses 2 to 3 quarts of water - enough to fill a 2-liter soda bottle. This is why it is important for your child to keep on hydrating.

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