Thirsty Thursday

Water: Weighty and Wanting By: Sarah Chisolm Miller

While it is easily seen that America is battling a very serious epidemic of obesity, another war is raging that is not so easily seen, known or addressed: the epidemic of chronic dehydration.

Though this may seem absurd at first, let’s review the quick facts.

· Water composes 70% of an adult body

· Your lungs and heart are 70.9% water

· Your muscles are 75% water

· Your liver, 75.3% water

· Your spleen, 77% water

· Most importantly, your brain is a whopping 83% water

The average adult eliminates an estimated 6 lbs. (2.5 liters) of water, daily! As we lose and eliminate this water through breathing, sweating, and trips to the restroom, we must be working to replenish the eliminated. Why? So glad you asked!!

Water plays an integral role in all biological processes and events. Without the appropriate amount of water, the systems in our body cannot work properly, which leads to the breakdown of our health.

Did you know . . .

· Water is the body’s main source of energy?

· Water generates electrical energy for our 1 trillion+ cells?

· Water transports and circulates our blood cells?

· Water is the glue that binds solid parts of the cell together?

· Water prevents damage to our DNA, meaning less disease?

· Water supercharges the power of our immune system?

· Water is used to transport all substances in the body?

· Water increases the body’s ability to absorb nutrients?

· Water enables our body to remove toxic waste?

(for a more comprehensive list, read Dr. F. Batmanghelidj’s Water: For healing, for health, for life)

Possible signs of dehydration

· Feeling thirsty! Careful, the feeling of thirst may be interpreted as hunger. Feeling hungry? Drink at least 8-ounces of water first, wait a few minutes and see if you are truly hungry or were actually thirsty.

· Fatigue without reason

· Feeling flushed

· Feeling unreasonably short-tempered

· Feeling anxious

· Feeling depressed

· Disturbed sleep

· Short attention span

· Quickly becoming angry

· Unreasonable impatience

· Craving for manufactured beverages

(source: Dr. F. Batmanghelidj’s Water: For healing, for health, for life)

Water’s role in preventing and healing illness

· Water aids in reducing rheumatoid pain in the joints.

· Water plays a major role in preventing constipation.

· Water helps to reduce the risks of heart attack and stroke.

· Water prevents clogging of arteries in the heart and brain.

· Water enables our body to cool and heat itself.

· Water has the ability to increase your attention span.

· Water helps reduce stress, anxiety and depression.

· Water gives our brain the power to think!

· Water reduces fatigue.

· Water brings restoration to sleep rhythms.

· Water is preventative in childhood ADHD.

· Water makes the skin smooth and fight the aging of skin.

· Water helps to prevent glaucoma.

· Water reduces pain associated with PMS.

· Dehydration causes sex hormone production to decrease.

· Drinking water regularly and in the proper amounts significantly aids in weight loss (flushes out all those nasty toxins)!

· Increasing your intake of water helps separate the sensations of thirst and hunger.

· Drinking water can help reduce the occurrence of morning sickness during pregnancy.

· Water helps prevent memory loss as we age.

· Water helps to reduce addictive urges

Suggestions for increasing your intake of water

· Upon rising (after greeting the new day with joy and visiting the restroom), immediately drink at least 8 ounces of water (drink up to a liter or two if you’d like/can) before consuming any food or other beverages. This will refresh your organs and wake up your body, as well as give you an extra boost of energy to start the day.

· Go through the day and simply forget to drink water? Set up a schedule and allocate specific times in your day as water breaks.

· Not around an area where water is always accessible? Prepare the water you’d like to drink before hand and take it with you. Or, like me, purchase a BPA free water bottle and make it your newest appendage (meaning, carry it with you everywhere, all the time)!

· Help yourself establish the habit for drinking just like hand washing. Every time you visit the restroom, wash your hands then go have a glass of water.

· Competitive? Set up a friendly competition with your spouse or roommate. See who can consistently drink 2.5 liters (the recommended daily amount according to the World Health Organization) of water a day for one week. The winner can receive a new water bottle or gift card to your local health foods store. You can also take this competition to the work place and help improve the health and working environment of everyone in your office!

(For more ideas on increasing your water consumption, refer to Christopher Vasey’s The Water Prescription: For health, Vitality and Rejuvenation)

Take a day or two and record everything you eat and drink. How much water are you replenishing your system with? Once you begin consuming the appropriate amount of water you will notice a difference in many areas of you life, especially with your nutrition. As your body is properly flushing out toxins and keeping your digestive juices at proper levels, your intestinal tract will be able to receive the nutrients you are consuming. Also, by consuming a good amount of water, you will stop eating excess food that is not needed, which can lead to weight loss. Whatever your reason or approach, drink water! It truly holds the power to heal.