I recommend you hydrate before and after your massage session. You perspire more than you think as the circulation increases. (Let’s hold off the common perception that “drinking water flushes out the toxins” for now.) As everybody knows the benefits of hydration, do you know how much water you really should drink daily?
The recommendation of “8 glasses a day” was removed from the
Institute of Medicine guidelines in 2004. Many sites have a calculator, but there isn’t one definite
formula because it depends on your weight,
activity level, climate, altitude, health conditions and etc. It seems, on average, water intake is (0.5–0.67 ounces x your weight). If your weight is 150 lb, then
75-100 ounces (appx. 9–12 cups) is your daily water intake. Again, you have to tweak this number
when you are more active, in a hotter environment and etc. If you are very active or athletes,
this calculator will
tell you exactly how much to drink during particular activities such as
running, biking and hiking.
The good news is this water intake includes:
- Milk
- Coffee
- Tea
- 100% fruit juice
- Fruits and vegetables (watermelons, melons, tomatoes, oranges, lettuce, celery)
- Sodas
- Sports drinks
- Soup
However, caffeinated and sugary drinks are advised to avoid. Alcohol does
dehydrate you, so don’t count it in the intake.
If you found out with the calculation above that you are not drinking enough water, here are a few personal tips. I drink carbonated water made with sodastream®, with a slice of lime or lemon. I hope you carry a BPA free water bottle instead of buying bottled water. I’ve recently noticed I like to sip, not gulp, so I can drink much more from a cup with a straw. There are also many apps to track and remind your water intake.
Keep hydrating!