💧 Did you know that as we age, our body's natural thirst reflex weakens? This means you might not feel thirsty even when your body desperately needs hydration. Staying ahead of your hydration needs is crucial for maintaining health and vitality, especially as you get older.

Welcome back to our '90 Days to Cancer Resilience' series. Today is Day 28, and we are wrapping up our three-part series on hydration. In the first two parts, we discussed the importance of hydration, the types of water, and the best water filtration options. Today, we'll cover how much water you should drink, the risks of overhydration, tips on how to remember to drink your water, and what to do if you find yourself going to the bathroom frequently.

How Much Water Should You Drink? The Institute of Medicine recommends about 3.7 liters (125 ounces) of water per day for men and about 2.7 liters (91 ounces) per day for women. This includes all beverages and water-rich foods. The common '8x8' rule—drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day—is a good starting point, but individual needs can vary.

Factors Influencing Water Needs:

• Physical activity increases your water needs due to sweat loss.
• Hot or humid climates can increase the amount of water you need to stay hydrated.
• Health conditions such as fever, vomiting, and diarrhea can also increase your water requirements.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding require additional fluid intake to stay hydrated.

Signs of Proper Hydration:

• Light-colored urine is a good sign of proper hydration.
• Regular bathroom breaks—every 2-4 hours—indicate you're drinking enough.
• Moist lips and mouth, and not feeling excessively thirsty, are also good indicators.

Thirst Reflex and Aging: As we age, our thirst reflex becomes weaker. This means that older adults may not feel thirsty even when their body needs water, making it essential to consciously monitor water intake to stay hydrated.

What If You're Going to the Bathroom Too Frequently? If you're finding yourself needing to use the bathroom every 20 minutes, there could be a few reasons. One common cause is simply drinking too much water or herbal tea in a short period. Your body can only process so much liquid at once.

Adjusting Your Intake: Try spacing out your water and tea consumption more evenly throughout the day instead of drinking large amounts at once. This can help reduce the frequency of bathroom trips.