Have you ever felt weighed down and sluggish but you didn’t know why? Or you had this little nagging headache that just would not go away. How about a rise in body temperature that make you break out in sweats.
On the flip side, have you ever looked at a person and marveled at their flawless complexion. Or wondered about the tricks and tips a friend uses to remain thin.
Well all of these things have one thing in common. W-A-T-E-R or the lack there of. You can love it or you can hate it but one thing you cannot do is live without it. Water ranks high in the holistic arsenal of natural products that aid our health and wellness.
Water – An Essential Body Fluid
The kidneys and other bodily functions depend on water to properly serve your body. Here how:
- Water keeps the kidneys functioning properly which helps prevent kidney stones and other problems that arise when the kidneys are water deprived. The kidneys are responsible for regulating our body fluid.
- Water lubricates the joints which helps the joints’ shock-absorbing ability. That shock-absorption keeps you from being stiff and in pain due to body movement.
- Water helps the digestive tract. It moves the bowel. A lack of water in the bowel causes constipation.
- Water is needed to flush toxins from the body. Toxins are removed from the body through urine, bowel movements and sweat.
- Water is needed to keep your airways open. Dehydration causes the airways to be restricted in an effort to minimize water loss.
- Water helps with weight loss. If water is drank instead of high calorie fruit juices or sodas it reduces the number of calories consumed. Water drank before a meal can prevent overeating by causing a sense of fullness.
These are just some reasons why water is essential to your body. A lack of water, on the other hand, or dehydration can spell trouble for your body.
Dehydration
Dehydration happens when the amount of fluids that leave the body is greater than the amount of water or fluids entering the body, and the body does not have enough water or fluids stored to perform bodily functions. If lost fluids are not replaced, you will become dehydrated. Some signs of dehydration include:
- Feelings of thirst and/or a dry or sticky mouth: When this occurs drink water to rehydrate your body. The appropriate daily water intake varies among health care experts. The two most prevalent recommendations are drink at least 8 glasses of water per day, or drink half your body weight in water. Ex.: If you weight 150 lbs, your should drink at least 75 oz of water.
- Headaches and migraines can be brought on by dehydration. So while you are getting medication to alleviate the pain, reach for some water too if you haven’t consumed your daily intake.
- Urine that is a dark color is usually an indication that you are not drinking enough water. If you are properly hydrated your urine will be clear or a light yellow color.
- Constipation sometimes occurs because your body does not have enough water so it causes your stool to get hard. Drinking water will loosen and soften the stool allowing it to pass through your body.
- Dry skin can occur when your body has too little water. The water that is available goes to your vital organs first, leaving your skin in waiting mode
It’s important to keep your body hydrated to avoid problems with body functions. So what is one to do?
Tips to Stay Hydrated
Get a nice water bottle and take it everywhere you go. This includes anywhere you go inside your home and when you leave home to go to work or school, run errands, go visiting, etc. Keep your water bottle close at hand to remind you to drink the water and before long it will become second nature,
Add some flavor to your water if you cannot drink it plain. Get some recipes and make infused water. It’s real easy to make. Just add some fruit, vegetables and/or herbs to your water and wait an hour or so for your ingredients to flavor the water. Now if that don’t tickle your fancy, you can always simply add a lemon or lime wedge to your water for flavor. There are other water alternatives like zero-calorie flavored waters and seltzers.
While hydration is important it is equally important that you do not overdo it and drink too much water since that can lead to overhydration. Say what?
Overhydration – Who knew?
Did you know a person can drink too much water and become overhydrated? I never knew that until I read a story about a teenage high school athlete that died after he drank two gallons of water and Gatorade to stay hydrated during football practice on an extremely hot day. Overhydration, known by the medical term hyponatremia is when there is too much water in the body causing the salt levels to drop. The reduction in salt and the body’s inability to eliminate the excess water can cause swelling in all the cells in the body, including the brain. Swelling of the brain cells can lead to a coma and ultimately death. Hence, too much water can do more harm than good! Yikes!!!!
Coming Full Circle
About 60% of your body is composed of water. This colorless, odorless, life-sustaining liquid ebbs and flows through your body absorbing nutrients, pushing them though your digestive tract, eliminating waste and toxins while also regulating your body temperature. These are just some reason why water is important for your body and bodily functions.
On the flip side, too little water can cause dehydration in your body while too much water can cause hyponatremia. Either condition can lead to serious problems for your body.
When your bodies is supplied with the proper amounts of water it creates a type of balance and harmony similar to the holistic connection between the body, mind and soul.