By: Dr. Tim Reynolds
One thing I learned in the Green Berets was the importance of water and keeping my team well hydrated. There were times our bodies required drinking several gallons of water a day just to stay hydrated. Water intake is so important to the human body that the only thing our bodies crave more than it is oxygen. You may not be aware that about 70 percent of your muscles and 75 percent of your brain are made up of water. Every day you lose about two cups of water simply by exhaling. Sweating, walking, and carrying on a conversation are just a few of the things that increase the amount of water you need daily.
How much water is enough? We have been inundated with information about loading ourselves with water. Interestingly, this information was not out there until people started selling water. Many medical professionals will now tell you to drink at least 64 ounces of water a day. I do not keep track of how much water I drink, but I do make sure to drink water. “Enough” water is when your body tells you it is no longer thirsty. One good idea is to skip the bottled water and buy a good reusable container to keep with you. I keep a container of ice water with me all day, and I sip on it throughout the day when I am thirsty. Not only does this ensure I’m helping to replenish my body’s water loss, but it also cuts down on giving into my cravings for soda.
Many people share a misconception that their body gets enough water from soda, coffee and other caffeinated drinks, but these drinks can actually cause you to become more dehydrated and steal nutrients from your system. It is amazing to me the amount of sodas that we as a country drink, and I think we drink them out of habit more than out of taste. The sad thing is soda has nothing in it worth drinking. Soda is essentially a can full of poison. Energy drinks and alcohol are too.
The good news about water is it is found in many of the things you eat, so long as you are eating healthy. About 90 percent of the fruit juice or milk you drink at breakfast goes to replenishing your water reserves. If you are eating four servings of fruits and vegetables daily, you will also be replenishing your body with about three cups of water because most fruits and vegetables are made up of about 80 percent water.
Remember that water plays many important roles in your body including protecting your organs, regulating your body’s temperature, and aiding the digestive system. Your body will let you know when it needs water, but I encourage you not to wait until you show signs of dehydration before you start to replenish your water reserves.
[Ed. Note: To get more great tips on how to live a healthy lifestyle, check out Dr. Tim's new book, The Green Beret Doctor's Health Plan for Life.]
Dr. Tim Reynolds is the managing parter for HealthCare Express. He is also the president and CEO of Dr. Tim, International, a company he founded in 2009 to allow him to share his passion for Living Every Minute with others. He dedicates countless hours each week to helping other people change their lives through mentoring, life building, giving inspirational talks and writing for his motivational newsletter, Adventures with Dr. Tim.
Dr. Tim was the first member of his family to graduate high school. He joined the military shortly after graduation. Dr Tim was a graduate of the Special Forces Q-course in July of 1982. He served as a Green Beret medic on an A-Team, as the Battalion medic and eventually as a Special Forces Battalion Surgeon for the 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He served both enlisted and as an officer for 17 years.
After getting out of the military, Dr. Tim was the first in his family to graduate college with honors. His passion for helping people inspired him to become a medical doctor, and in 1993 he graduated Summa Cum Laude with an MD degree from the University of Utah. He completed his Emergency Medicine residency at Texas A&M Scott and White in 1996 and is board certified in emergency medicine. Dr. Tim is the managing partner for HealthCARE Express, a group of urgent care clinics rapidly expanding across the United States.
Prior to starting HealthCARE Express in 2006, Dr. Tim held numerous positions across the medical field, including: medical director of the Wadley Regional Medical Center Emergency Department and level II trauma center; director, Texas College of Emergency Physicians Board of Directors; president of E-Med Services, LLP and of E-Med Billing Solutions, LLP; associate clinical professor for the Area Health Education Center at the University of Arkansas; founding member of the Greater People’s Clinic of Texarkana Board of Directors.
Dr. Tim speaks fluent Spanish, having lived in Guatemala and traveled throughout Central America.
In addition to his medical experience, Dr. Tim is also an entrepreneur and successful businessman. He is currently the chief executive officer of TL Reynolds Properties, LLP, a real estate investment company; and he is a managing partner of JJET Developments Ltd., a real estate development company.
Dr. Tim has served on numerous other committees and boards throughout both the medical and business communities and is published in various journals and publications. He is sought after as a presenter at many national conferences.
In his leisure time, Dr. Tim enjoys spending time on his Ranch in Atlanta, Texas, where he lives with his beautiful wife, Pam, and their five amazing children. He holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, is a SCUBA rescue diver, and a pilot. He also enjoys body building, golf, and hiking.
Dr. Tim is a world traveler, having visited six of the seven continents. He is a firm believer in living every minute of life and teaching others to do the same. His online website www.livingeveryminute.com allows him to reach thousands of people around the world as they subscribe to his weekly self-help and life improvement adventure newsletters.