Hydration - Priority #1
Let’s get straight to the point. Hydration is critical to our health. We can live for several days without food, but if we go without water, we can die within 3 days. Whenever I give a presentation, I tell the audience, “If you don’t remember anything else that I have said, remember this, stay hydrated!”
The reasons for needing to hydrate are numerous. For one, every cell (there are trillions in every body) needs water to function properly. Think of a cell as an enormously complex city that has several functions to perform. When we are hydrated, these cities are functioning at optimal capacity, no traffic jams, all the city services are working properly, everyone is happy and doing their very best. But when we are dehydrated, things get clogged up and slow down and the pollution increases, and people become tired and unhappy.
Our cells function electrically. The proper hydration is also vital for the electric impulses to fire and for cells to communicate amongst themselves.
Another analogy is to think of cells as a busy kitchen at a huge restaurant. Everything is properly spaced out and no one gets in another person’s way when we are hydrated. But, as we become dehydrated we find that the kitchen shrinks and everyone is bumping into each other and things go south from there.
So, here’s the deal. Hydration is priority #1. How do you ensure you are hydrated?
HOW MUCH?
Drink half your body weight in ounces every day. So, if you weigh 200 pounds, drink 100 ounces of water per day. Generally, no one should drink over a gallon of water per day. You can actually over hydrate, and it can wash out your electrolytes which can cause some severe issues. If you are very active and sweating a lot, then it’s a good idea to add some extra hydration to your day.
WHEN?
Drink the bulk of your water between meals. At Optimal You, I work with clients to improve their digestion so they can obtain the most out of their nutrition. It is important that we don’t dilute our gastric secretions which help us digest our food. So, only drink 2-4 ounces of water with meals and drink the rest between meals.
WHAT TO DRINK?
Water is what the body needs. It offers 100% hydration. Tea, coffee, sodas, energy drinks and alcohol dehydrate the body. If you do drink these diuretic type fluids, you will need to drink 1.5 times that amount in water to restore your optimal hydration level.
Ideal water is natural spring water that is clean and has not been processed. However, this is not accessible to most people. So, be sure your water sources are filtered and clean. A word of caution about reverse osmosis (RO) systems. If you drink RO water you are getting clean water, but it is devoid of most minerals. So, you will need to add them back in with sea salt or mineral drops. This applies to distilled water as well.
I HATE THE TASTE OF WATER
You’re not alone. I encourage you to try to purchase some quality water and try to taste the goodness in it. When I have access to natural mineral water, I can tell my body is getting what it needs. You can also try to “flavor” the water naturally by getting a large carafe and adding sliced cucumber, berries, citrus fruits or other things to enhance the flavor. There are several “flavored” waters for sale, but it’s often difficult to tell what they are using for the added flavors. It is always best to flavor it yourself. Plus, if you add a pinch or two of sea salt to your water, it enhances the flavor while adding the minerals the body needs.
As with any change, it will take time to adjust to drinking mostly water. Since this is priority #1, it’s worth doing and your body will thank you for it and you will feel the difference.
Water quality matters.