Originally Posted by Lynnie63 (Post 4593200)

I found this on another website and thought it was interesting - no idea where it came from

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE PROPERLY HYDRATED?

Clean pure water is essential to the health of every cell in your body. In the presence of fresh water, the body is able to effectively breathe, digest, eliminate and perspire. Even our glandular activities rely on the presence of water. However, an amazingly small minority of all Americans drink sufficient amounts of water! And even if you are drinking enough water, it may still be difficult to avoid dehydration.

It is very difficult to achieve a state of optimum hydration if you carry too much body fat. A fat cell can only hold up to 15% water, whereas a healthy muscle cell can hold up to 72%; the more fat you carry, the less space you have for storing water. Therefore, losing muscle over time contributes towards an overall state of dehydration. You can drink all the water in the world, but unless you have somewhere to put it, it will go right through you.

Ideal hydration percentage (intracellular water) is >65% for men and >60% for women. Most people carrying excess body fat (28-38%) come in around 52-55%. Even if these people drink gallons of water a day, they will remain dehydrated. The focus should then turn to increasing lean body mass (muscle), and decreasing fat mass. This is done through dietary changes and the addition a of muscle-building fitness program.