Why Drinking 8 Glasses of Water Daily May Not Be Enough

Water, the essence of life. Humans can go without food for 3 days but we can’t go for a long time without water. One of the first rules that I had to learn to heal my disc herniation was that I had to drink water. Along the way, I found out that drinking more water also helped to lose weight? Again, the two birds in one stone comes into play.

However, I had a shocker when I found out that 8 glasses of water daily is not sufficient for everyone.

Do you want to know WHY DRINKING 8 GLASSES OF WATER DAILY MAY NOT BE ENOUGH? Then read on.

Why drink water?

I found out that it was to help to keep the spine hydrated. As my coach was the one that was teaching me the ways and means to heal my disc herniation, I thought, why not? Water is used for many of my body’s function so drinking more seemed to be the right thing to do.

Also, since I was trying to lose weight too, it helped that the water was used to carry out the fat waste from my body while I exercised. Now this, I didn’t know until I met my coach. Apparently, the liver is the organ that breaks down the fat and the waste is carried out of my body using water either through sweat or urine. The water also helps with bowel movements as well.

How much water to drink?

I follow Dr. F.Batmanghelidj, M.D.’s guidelines, as recommended by the CHEK Institute. This rule also popped up in the American Fitness Professionals & Associates Septermber 1999 Health & Fitness Newsletter, in an article titled “Water the Essence of Life” by Dr. David S. Dyer, N.D.

The rule is :

Drink half your bodyweight daily, using Imperial units.

Example :

1. Body weight is 100 pounds.
2. Water required is 100 divided by 2 = 50 ounces.

Currently, I’m drinking about 4-6 liters of water daily. My minimum daily requirement is about 4 liters and because of my exercises, I drink an additional 2 liters. I would drink the water throughout the day and it helps with my health as well as my sense of wellbeing. I have less headaches and migraines too. If I do feel the onset of a headache, I don’t reach out for painkillers but glasses of water.

How do I measure how much water drink daily?

I use a 1000-ML stainless steel bottle at work to measure the amount I’m taking. I mark down in my diary how much I take during the day. It works out to :

• 1 liter in the morning
• 1 liter in the afternoon
• 2 liters in the evening because I’m working out in the gym

So that’s how much water I’m now drinking. When I found out this information, I was in my early thirties so it’s not too late to start drinking the required amount now. Our bodies have a HUGE HEALING capacity that it’s never too late to start a new habit. Drinking plain and clean water definitely helps. I find that my back pain has decrease rapidly, my weight dropping and a general sense of well-being is felt.

So if you want to feel better from back pain and lose weight, drink half your bodyweight in water!