Central Illinois Vegan

Are you drinking enough water? According to the Mayo Clinic's website, men should consume 3 liters of water per day, and women should consume 2.2 liters of water per day. Sure, that sounds like a lot of water, but were we to back off on the coffee and soft drinks, maybe it wouldn't sound so unreasonable.

With all of the things we're told to do for our health it's easy to become overwhelmed. Supplements, food pyramids, it's a bit much, don't you think? With the new year you see so many people making resolutions. My resolution is simple: drink enough water.

Drinking enough water isn't just good for general overall health, it's good for weight loss, helping your body absorb nutrients, and it's good for soft tissue health. Much of the hunger we feel is actually thirst. I don't know about you, but I suffer from a lot of the things that seem associated with dehydration, including headache, fatigue, and weakness. The Mayo Clinic says the best measure of your hydration is how clear your pee is: the more clear your urine, the better hydrated you are.

The United States has some of the best water supplies in existence, the envy of many countries. For some obscene reason, however, we keep turning water into chemical soups like pop. Let's resolve to stop rewarding cruel food companies who exploit animals and harm our health. Also, avoid buying bottled water. The companies that market soft drinks also sell bottled water. Much of this bottled water perpetuates their exploitative system and pollutes our world. Brands like Fiji even exploit indigenous peoples and ecosystems to ship to rich countries that pay a premium... all the while manipulating local governments and paying subhuman wages.

Bring your own bottle, drink from the tap, drink for your health, and drink for social justice.