Drink Water, Georgia! Campaign begins

The University of Georgia, Emanuel County Extension, and SNAP-Ed are joining forces this summer in an effort to help Georgians get hydrated and healthy by drinking more water. The Drink Water, Georgia! Campaign is a team effort across the state to reach people with the fact that drinking water is best for overall health. This campaign includes media pieces and text messages to encourage drinking water rather than sugary beverages like sweet tea, sodas, and sports drinks.

Residents are encouraged to text “WATER” or “Agua” to 833-712-1267 to join. The option to sign-up begins June 1 and lasts through July 4, 2021. Messages with tips and recipes are available in English and Spanish and run for seven weeks.

Did you know that about 60 percent of your body is made of water? Adequate hydration helps your body function properly. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends that women need about 11.5 cups of water per day and men need about 15.5 cups of water daily. Being very active or spending time in the hot Georgia sun causes you to sweat! This raises your need to hydrate even more. In fact, if you feel thirsty and your lips and mouth are dry, you are most likely already dehydrated. One great way to keep hydrated is to carry a reusable water bottle. Set a timer to remember to drink water throughout the day.

Staying well hydrated will benefit your body in many ways. Be on the lookout for the next newspaper article, which will inform you about some of the health benefits of drinking water.

Emanuel County Extension is happy to see that the UGA SNAP-Ed Program chose to bring this exciting campaign to the local community. Multiple efforts are in place to reach out to our residents: Billboards, Facebook invitations, and newspaper articles will encourage them to sign up for the texting program.

For more information about the Drink Water, Georgia! Campaign, please contact Emanuel County Extension at 478-237-1226, uge3107@uga.edu, or the University of Georgia SNAP-Ed Program at snap-eduga.edu.