How Much Water Does the Body Need?
A Look at Hydration From a Traditional Chinese Medicine Standpoint
Nov 13, 2008
Different Traditional Chinese Medicine assessment types may differ in their need for water. Fluid intake is very personal and each of the factors that play into it must be looked at to determine optimum ways of maintaining hydration.
Why Water is So Important in Health
The human body is over 60% water. That water is used to move nutrients around the body, keep joints supple and flush impurities out of the body. Maintaining normal hydration will result in better overall health.
Diet and Water Intake
Differing diets will require different amounts of water to maintain hydration. Diets high in fruits and vegetables and sprouts will mean less water is needed, as these foods contain a significant amount of water.
Eating soups and stews which have a high water content will also reduce the need to drink water. Meat eaters will need to consume more water than vegetarians as meats cause uric acid to build up in the body. Drinking water flushes the uric acid out of the body.
Health, Activity Level and Climate Affect Water Needs
Illness, especially cases of high fever or vomiting and diarrhea, result in dehydration. Replacing the fluids lost during illness will be a necessary part of returning to a healthy state.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine the climate and season are taken into account when counseling on water intake. Water is lost through evaporation and sweating in hot, dry and windy climates. Sweating from physical exertion whether working or playing results in fluid loss as well. Persons in these situations will need to drink more water than those who live in cold and damp climates or who have a more sedentary lifestyle.
How Water Quality Affects Drinking Habits
People are less likely to drink water that doesn’t taste good. Chlorinated water is a case in point. The same is true of water from areas where there are sulfur springs giving off a rotten egg smell. Conversely, if the water source is clean and pure, with a reasonable mineral content, most people will find it easy to drink enough water.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Assessment Types and Water Consumption
As with the climate, the basic TCM type will help determine water needs. Spleen Qi Deficient individuals whose digestive fire is inefficient will find drinking large quantities of water leaves them feeling bloated. This is because the water further hampers digestion and the smooth flow of fluids in the body. Sipping smaller amounts throughout the day may help the Spleen Qi Deficient person consume more water. This TCM type will also benefit from a diet that includes soups and stews which provide water and moderately cooked foods, which are easier to digest.
Yin Deficiency Fire on the other hand, will cause the person to feel thirsty and require more water. This TCM type is more prone to heartburn than the Spleen Qi Deficient person with the tendency to bloating. Increasing fruit and vegetable intake will help with maintaining hydration.
When to Drink Water
Drinking large amounts of water with a meal will result in digestive enzymes being diluted, decreasing digestive efficiency. Instead the water should be consumed at least half an hour before or one hour after the meal.
It is also beneficial to drink some water before beginning strenuous exercise or being exposed to dry and/or windy conditions. It is not unusual for people to be unaware or minimally aware of their hydration state, especially when active. Continuing to drink at least small amounts of water when active or when the climate indicates will reduce the need for consuming large amounts of water at one time.
Being aware of what proper hydration feels like is key to maintaining good hydration levels. Paying attention to individual Traditional Chinese Medicine assessment type will aid a person in balancing hydration without feeling forced to drink a specific number of glasses of water per day.
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