Sep 20, 2012

Thirsty Thursday



hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!  water, water, water!  i say this so often to people (including my own family) more often than i'd like.  water is so important to our bodies and keeping our over all health up.  i really believe that water is the most important food group :-)

last night i was reading through my Anatomy book and it was discussing the importance of water to our cells and it got me thinking.................how many people really don't understand how critical water is to their bodies?  so that's what we are going to talk about this morning!

did you know:

  • your brain is composed of 95% water
  • your blood is 82% water
  • your lungs are nearly 90% water
  • a 2% drop in body water can cause a (small) critical shrinkage of the brain
read that last fact again.................i'll give you a second.............that's right boys and girls  not drinking enough water can shrink your brain!!  WHAT?!?!?!  yes mild dehydration can cause fatigue and that cloudy mind you may sometimes get.  many people get an afternoon slump; where they feel run down, sleep and just not with it.  some grab an energy drink.  some go for a cup of coffee, and others (the smart ones) go for water.  when my kids complain of no energy in the afternoon i tell them to go drink a big glass of water and almost instantly they are their old self again!  why am i making such a big deal about this?  well, it's estimated that 75% of Americans have mild, chronic dehydration.

symptoms of chronic dehydration:

  • fatigue
  • constipation
  • acid-alkaline imbalance
  • excess weight/obesity
  • high cholesterol
  • digestive disorders
  • urinary infection
  • premature aging
and to think this can all be avoid by just drinking your water!  there are some common causes for water loss: caffeine (though there is now debate over this), alcohol, stress, hot weather, increased sodium intake, and increased physical activity.  now that i've given you all the scary things about not drinking enough water let's talk about water and the benefits it holds for you and your health :-)



  the good things about water:      
  • aids in circulation
  • reduces risk of disease; decrease the risk of colon cancer by 45%
  • build muscle & increase tone; remember they are made mostly of water
  • increases energy; basic science-water is the medium in which all energy reactions take place
  • reduces fluid retention; crazy i know but he MORE water you drink the less you retain because the less your body receives it thinks there is a threat to survival and begins to horde it all (water retention)
  • healthier body & mind; it's essential for nutrient absorption and can improvement in memory
  • healthier joints; synovial fluid reduces friction between cartilage in joints and contains *gasp* water
  • healthier skin; when properly hydrated your skin plumps up and you may notice less wrinkles
  • healthier digestive system; helps metabolize food, healthy urinary tract, helps move waste
  • weight loss; natural appetite suppressant, increases the body's ability to metabolize stored fat
so let me ask you this; are you drinking enough water?  why not?!?!?!  believe me when i say i drink my water (almost) all the time!  since i am still nursing and i work out i drink a LOT............around 4L and some days even more.  i walk around with my awesome pink water bottle (it matches my hair haha) and sip on it all day long.  if you aren't tracking your water yet why not start doing it today.  you may be surprised what may happen to your body and your mind if you are drinking enough water.  aim for 2-3L and you may find yourself with more energy, a smaller appetite and a smaller waistline in no time!  if you'd like you can go here and it's a pretty niffty calculator to help you figure out how much water you should drink too!  i suggest getting a water bottle that holds .75L or a full liter because then you only have to drink 2 or 3 "cups" vs. a whole bunch.  it's that mind over matter thing, ya know?

well, i hope y'all have a terrific thursday and stay hydrated!!



No comments: