As we reach peak temperatures, it’s easy for us to reach for something other than the most obvious to quench our thirst. And although there isn’t anything wrong with periodically indulging in our favourite cold summer beverage or gelato, we must do a better job of consistently staying hydrated. Most people don’t drink enough water. I see this a lot in my practice. Our bodies are mostly made up of water, and so is the earth. We could not survive without it, and chances are most of us are not getting enough.
Water’s benefits include:
Carries oxygen throughout the body
Enhances brain function
Aids in digestion and weight loss
Flushes body waste and detoxifies
Boosts skin health
Significantly affects energy levels
Regulates body temperature and mood
helps maintain blood pressure
On average, we should drink between 8-16 8 oz cups a day. The amount of water we need depends on many things. Lifestyle; how active we are, our climate, our weight and height play a key role. As well as how many fruits and vegetables we eat each day, as they contain water. Alcohol and caffeine consumption play a role too. Drinking alcohol and caffeinated beverages dehydrate us. We need to compensate, one cup of water for every coffee, tea, or alcoholic beverage.
Dehydration can have serious side effects, and although most of us don’t ever get to that level, we still see minor symptoms like dry mouth and skin, headaches, fatigue, sugar cravings, etc. Our vital organs are first to take the water they need for survival leaving secondary systems and organs, like skin, starved.
Keep in mind that not all water is created equal. Avoid Tap and bottled water. Tap water contains chlorine, flouride, lead, mercury, radon, nitrates, arsenic, and pharmaceutical drugs. Water that comes from plastic bottles contains high amounts of BPA, known to disrupt hormones and clog up our liver and kidneys. Plastic is also bad for our planet.
Good sources of water include spring, filtered, and distilled water. Springwater is probably the best source of water but also the hardest to come by. Ask around, though; there may be a natural spring not too far from where you live. Filtered water is something you can achieve at home. There are some great filtration systems out there,
www.consciouswater.ca, https://waterfilters.mercola.com/, A more budget friendly option is a Brita or a Zerowater filter. These will remove metals like lead, copper, and mercury and chemicals such as chlorine and pesticides.
Filtration systems such as solid carbon block will remove fluoride, bacteria, parasites, pesticides, solvents, possible heavy metals without removing basic minerals.
Reverse osmosis or distillation will remove fluoride, bacteria, parasites, pesticides, and heavy metals. Both processes will remove basic minerals which you will need to add back into your water.
The bottom line is, get your water in. You will feel better for it and your body will thank you.
Stay hydrated.
Jen
Water’s benefits include:
Carries oxygen throughout the body
Enhances brain function
Aids in digestion and weight loss
Flushes body waste and detoxifies
Boosts skin health
Significantly affects energy levels
Regulates body temperature and mood
helps maintain blood pressure
On average, we should drink between 8-16 8 oz cups a day. The amount of water we need depends on many things. Lifestyle; how active we are, our climate, our weight and height play a key role. As well as how many fruits and vegetables we eat each day, as they contain water. Alcohol and caffeine consumption play a role too. Drinking alcohol and caffeinated beverages dehydrate us. We need to compensate, one cup of water for every coffee, tea, or alcoholic beverage.
Dehydration can have serious side effects, and although most of us don’t ever get to that level, we still see minor symptoms like dry mouth and skin, headaches, fatigue, sugar cravings, etc. Our vital organs are first to take the water they need for survival leaving secondary systems and organs, like skin, starved.
Keep in mind that not all water is created equal. Avoid Tap and bottled water. Tap water contains chlorine, flouride, lead, mercury, radon, nitrates, arsenic, and pharmaceutical drugs. Water that comes from plastic bottles contains high amounts of BPA, known to disrupt hormones and clog up our liver and kidneys. Plastic is also bad for our planet.
Good sources of water include spring, filtered, and distilled water. Springwater is probably the best source of water but also the hardest to come by. Ask around, though; there may be a natural spring not too far from where you live. Filtered water is something you can achieve at home. There are some great filtration systems out there,
www.consciouswater.ca, https://waterfilters.mercola.com/, A more budget friendly option is a Brita or a Zerowater filter. These will remove metals like lead, copper, and mercury and chemicals such as chlorine and pesticides.
Filtration systems such as solid carbon block will remove fluoride, bacteria, parasites, pesticides, solvents, possible heavy metals without removing basic minerals.
Reverse osmosis or distillation will remove fluoride, bacteria, parasites, pesticides, and heavy metals. Both processes will remove basic minerals which you will need to add back into your water.
The bottom line is, get your water in. You will feel better for it and your body will thank you.
Stay hydrated.
Jen