You’re Going to Need To Drink More Water Than You Think You Do

It's no surprise that as temperatures rise, you need to drink more water. It's summer and your body loses more fluids in the high heat meaning you'll get parched faster than normal. You've probably heard the saying "if you're thirsty you're already dehydrating"?  Or maybe you've heard that you need just eight cups of water a day? Well, if you've ever wondered how much water you actually need, contemplate on how much water you think you need... now double it.

The amount of water your body needs really depends on your weight and body type, this according to registered dietitian and nutritionist Lauren Minchen. Minchen says that generally, two to four liters for active adults is what you want to aim for (that's 68 to 135 ounces btw). Amy Shapiro, a registered dietitian, nutritionist, and founder of Real Nutrition NYC, tells HuffPost that she recommends you drink half your body weight in ounces of water. For example, if you weight 200 pounds, you're going to want to drink 100 ounces of water a day (that's more than eight cups of water a day- eight cups equals 64 ounces). You're going to want to continually add water if you're working out and losing fluid in sweat while you exercise.

In the borderland, we are in the midst of a heat wave, and it has been brutal this year (because 2020 can't give us a break!). It's been so bad that the El Paso Office of Emergency Management, in collaboration with the City of El Paso Parks and Recreation Center and the Extreme Weather Task Force opened up cooling centers around the city. They also remind the public to take necessary precautions to keep you and your loved ones safe such as limiting your time outdoors, drink water frequently to avoid dehydration, cool off in air conditioning often, wear light clothing, avoid strenuous activity, and check on family members and neighbors- especially if they're elderly. They also advise to know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke as this long duration heat puts everyone at a very high risk of developing heat-related illnesses that can potentially become deadly.

Stay hydrated out there!