How to Hydrate with Purpose

Depending on who you ask, the human body and the earth are both comprised of 70–80% water. Water is essential for keeping the delicate tissue of the mouth, eyes, and nose moist. It lubricates joints, regulates body temperature, and transports nutrients while flushing out toxins and waste.

Life starts with a body composition of about 80% water. By the time we’re 50, our water content is closer to 50%, which is why older skin appears less plump. It’s clear we need to consume enough water each day. But just how much do we really need and what’s the best way to integrate it into our bodies?

Drinking water is not the only way to hydrate; the foods we eat contain water. Beyond the urban legend of eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day, the truth is that drinking water doesn’t necessarily correlate to hydration. You can drink a half a gallon of water each day, but how much of it are you actually assimilating into your cells? Furthermore, drinking large quantities of water in an effort to hydrate may deplete the body of vital vitamins and minerals. Water does no good if you just wind up flushing most of it down the toilet.

The water found in food, specifically in fruits and vegetables, is surrounded by other molecules that enhance cell absorption, retainment, and utility. Water molecules trapped in food structures are absorbed much more slowly…