Julian Omidi discusses the importance of providing your children with a sufficient amount of hydration every day.
We’ve all heard the saying repeated time and time again: “Drink at least eight glasses of water a day!” As it turns out, this is a myth that has been debunked by countless experts in the past decade—we had forgotten to count the water that is present in food, which dissolves during digestion. Nutritionists generally recommend three cups a day for women, and five for men. As adults, remembering to drink enough water is something we usually have control over.
Children, however, are not to be held accountable in the same way for maintaining a healthy intake of nutrients. Harvard University’s School of Public Health recently came out with research that suggest fifty percent of all children do not drink enough water.
Experts recommend children up to four should drink four 8 ounce servings of water per day, and older children need 6 – 8 eight ounce servings.
If you have children that are athletic or very active, pay even closer attention to their water intake. Dehydration combined with endurance-related activities can be dangerous, causing dizziness, nausea, and even loss of consciousness.
Remember, it’s much, much better for children to drink plain old water than anything with excessive sugar or artificial sweetener. Teach them healthy ways to stay hydrated from the beginning, and they’ll move into adulthood with the skills they need to lead healthy, happy lives.
Be good to each other,
Julian Omidi
Julian Omidi is a co-founder of The Children’s Obesity Fund, and strives to practice healthy living every day.
