Drink water! Why?  

  • How much to drink daily depends on the individual, but here are some guidelines. 
  • Men: 3-3.7 liters per day 
  • Women: 2-2.7 liters per day 
  • These numbers go up or down depending on size, and this does NOT account for physical activity! 
  • If you are also physically active, drink 6-8 ounces of water every 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise. 
  • Always drink when thirsty, but if you ONLY drink when thirsty, you are already dehydrated. 
  • Thirst isn't an accurate sense, not like touch or smell. If you FEEL thirsty, you've needed water for a while.  
  • Proper hydration can help brain function; many studies have shown that dehydration affects both mood and concentration. 
  • A mild increase in metabolism is seen after drinking water, which means more calories burned; also, it can help you eat less when drunk before a meal.  

Staying hydrated benefits several health problems, including acne and constipation.  

Article Review: Influence Of Outdoor Recreation On Self-Rated Human Health

Throughout our day-to-day lives, notice how much time is spent indoors, sitting in class, at work, and even where you work out. Aside from the sedentariness that is very common with working indoors, being more or less confined within four walls can also affect you. Simply getting outside those walls and participating in outdoor recreation has been dramatically researched and shown to impact well-being positively.

Nature can deliver many physical, psychological, and social benefits outdoors. There are many various activities to do with and without equipment that get your body moving. Simply getting 'fresh air' can refresh your body. Furthermore, being away from the city's buildings can help clear the mind and gain awareness of oneself and the surroundings. Nature can provide relief from mental fatigue and provide a stress-free environment. Also, social interaction with others in the community or those with similar interests can help bond and improve that sense of belonging.

A study done back in 2009 by Norman et al. looked into how self-rated health is influenced by outdoor recreation. The participants used to conduct this survey were all already outdoor recreationists who indicated that their current baseline health state was relatively high and they perceived good overall well-being. When they were introduced to a hypothetical scenario of not having access to outdoor recreation, a significant amount said it would negatively impact their self-rated health. Although this article shows the perceived impact of not being outdoors, the participants that were used have to be taken into significant consideration – they were already very active outdoors. The next step would be getting those that don't necessarily partake in outdoor rec to understand its benefits on physical activity and overall wellbeing.

Cities around the US are starting to provide green spaces for the community due to the ever-growing research on the benefits being active outside has on health and wellbeing. Hopefully, the message catches on, and people will start getting active because I think this could be a huge game changer for the obesity epidemic.