Water: Nature's Nectar
One of the things I get asked a lot is “whats one thing I can do right now that will improve my health?”. My answer is ALWAYS drink enough water daily! What’s enough water? Most times it is half your body weight in ounces of water minimum. So if you weigh 180 pounds, then you should drink at least 90 ounces of water daily. When I say water, I mean non carbonated, unflavored, room temperature water. Cold or iced water, along with carbonated bubbles causes your body to absorb less (urinate more) and irritates your digestive tract. Also, consuming things that act like a diuretic will also cause increased urination. These include processed sugars, alcohol, and caffeine. (decaf coffee still has caffeine by the way) Below are some of my favorite reasons why YOU need to drink more water:
- Composes 75% of my Brain
- Helps regulate my body temperature
- Aides in the removal of waste from my body
- Lubricates and cushions your joints
- Helps deliver oxygen & nutrients to your cells
- Moistens oxygen so my breaths are smoother & easier
- Cushions & protects my vital organs
- Helps convert my food to energy(metabolism)
- Regular dehydration can cause chronic fatigue daily
- Foggy Mind, lack of memory, trouble focusing, and irritability have been linked to a chronic state of dehydration
- Regular and adequate daily water intake reduces your risk for kidney stones, bladder dysfunction, and UTIs
- 90+% of headaches are caused by dehydration
- Helps keep regular daily bowel movements, thereby reducing your chances of chronic constipation and its associated complications(hemorrhoids, diverticulosis-diverticulitis)
- Water helps my body burn and melt away fat
- Dehydration that leads to hypovolemia can result in tachycardia(rapid heartbeats), dizziness, and nausea
- Well hydrated and healthy kidneys are a cornerstone to electrolyte balance and a healthy/normal blood pressure
- Only water truly quenches your thirst