A Simplistic Approach to Understanding the Importance of Water & How it Impacts Our Overall Wellness & Vitality

“I’m dying of thirst!”

Well, you just might. It sounds so simple. H20 – two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen. This substance also known as water is one of the most essential elements to health and is so important that your body actually has a specific drought management team built in place to prevent dehydration and ensure your survival. Water might be everywhere, but one must never take it for granted.

Water makes up more than two thirds of human body weight, and without water, we would die in a few days. Our bodies are made of over 70 % water; your brain is roughly 80% water. Remember, we are energy and we are electric – when your cells don’t have enough fluid, they lose their conductivity A mere 2% drop in our body’s water supply can trigger signs of dehydration: fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on smaller print, such as a computer screen. (Are you having trouble reading this? Drink up!) Mild dehydration is also one of the most common causes of daytime fatigue, headaches, moodiness, cravings and constipation.

An estimated seventy-five percent of Canadians have mild, chronic dehydration. Pretty scary statistic for a developed country where water is readily available through the tap or filtered water.

Drinking purified water is like giving your insides a bath, a good rinse, a happy shower. Refreshing!

• Water helps nutrients to flow into our cells and acid waste to flow out of cells.
• Water is the main component in our blood and lymph.
• Water forms the base for saliva
• Water forms the fluids that surround the joints and acts as a lubricant.
• Water regulates the body temperature, as the cooling & heating is distributed through perspiration.
• Water helps to eliminate constipation by moving food through the intestinal tract and thereby eliminating waste – the best detoxing tool you have.
• Did you know that a very large percentage of infants and children with constipation show a link to their water, either that which is mixed with infant formula or drinking water, contains so much iron, chlorine, flouride and various minerals that their digestive systems and intestines can’t keep up with it.
• It is also extremely hard on the liver and kidneys to purify and filter your water if you aren’t taking responsibility for filtering it yourself.
• Water helps to regulate your digestion and metabolism.
• Think about the water you bathe with, wash your face and brush your teeth with daily. Your skin is your largest organ and literally eats everything that goes on, in and through it. The more acidic or impure the water, the greater the stress on your skin, hairs, nails and teeth. Think – dandruff, eczema, psoriasis, acne, dry hair and thyroid issues.

Hydration Pointers

• Ideally, we should consume about ½ our wright in ounces of pure water daily. Ex: 140 lb person needs 70 ounces or just over 2 liters of water daily.
• It may seem like a lot but drinking herbal teas, juicing, and eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables will contribute to your overall fluid intake throughout that day.
• It is best to keep your water nearby daily. Sip often throughout the day and don’t wait until you are thirsty as that is a sign that dehydration has already set in. PS hunger is often a sign of thirst!!!
• Guess what? Coffee is not water. Neither is black tea, pop, crystal light, vitamin water and bottled juice. These drinks will pull hydration and minerals form your body, making you even more dehydrated.

Bottled Water: Just Say NO!

Although it’s oh-so-convenient to purchase bottled water, it is also a huge waste on multiple levels:

• The stress is puts on our environment from the millions of plastic bottles that are over-flowing our landfills, oceans, lakes and rivers is astronomical.
• These plastics can last for hundreds, even thousands of years before they will ever breakdown. In turn, meaning that many marine/water life and birds will mistaken these for food and end up choking and dying in droves.
• The amount of money you are spending on bottled water you could be putting towards a filtering system for your home and a few reusable BPA free bottles like stainless-steel Kleen Kanteen, glass bottles or glass mason jars.
• Numerous studies show that bottled water is often less healthy and less pure then the FREE drinking tap water that is in your home.
• The physical stress bottled water puts on YOU is also very worrisome. The plastic used for bottled water contains a dangerous chemical BPA, which wreaks havoc on our hormones and has been linked to various estrogen dominant cancers.

The Bottom Line

There is much to know about our water on many levels, so keep yourself informed and stay committed to choosing wiser and feeling better…Your Body Will Thank You!