Get Hydrated, Get Healthy

One of the more important parts of nutrition and physical wellness is hydration. How many of us don't drink enough water? Dr. Shawn Weiss joins Suzanne to talk about proper hydration. 

Dr. Shawn says, "Winter is just as important as summer. We think summer of being outside and getting dehydrated. But winter is also a very bad time for hydration. It's one of the quickest things that will put you in the hospital when you get older is dehydration. What is proper hydration? If I'm working with clients that are over 65, I'm asking them about their intake of water and drinks, and I hear a lot of coffee, sodas, and teas, and they are dehydrating even though they have water in them. Yes, herbal tea is going to be better for you than a can of Coke. I try to make it easy, especially as you get older, 64 ounces, eight cups of water at a minimum. I'm not one of the proponents of necessarily drinking your body weight because there is such a thing as too much water. If you have any type of kidney problems, you could go into significant kidney issues and kidney failure if you're drinking too much water because your body can't keep up. So if you do have known kidney issues, even some cancer patients who have kidney functions affected, you do have to be careful with that. I would consult your physician. But generally, if you're staying with 64 ounces at a minimum, you're going to do wonderfully, unless you've been medically told not to drink that much. I fill my 32-ounce jug up in the morning with water, and then I want that gone by lunchtime. I'm going to fill it up again and I want it done by dinner time. That's an easy 64 ounces of water. That's an easy way to do it. Keep it right beside you where you are sitting, and that way you can track it."

What if you don't like drinking water? Dr. Shawn adds, "You have some very popular little packets that have the flavorings. Again, I'm going to have you carefully look at those labels. I like to flavor my water too. I'm not a big plain water drinker. I like to put fresh lemons, and limes, and oranges into my water. It's a wonderful way to flavor your water safely, without any excess crap in it... I do have a couple of brands, the flavor sticks, because I'm getting more bang for my buck. They have B12 vitamins, electrolytes, no caffeine, no sugar. It is going to help with your energy levels safely, without the caffeine and without any of the extras."

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