How many times a day do we feel our energy falling and reach for food when we are actually in need of water? How often do we spend time and money on medical treatment for conditions that could have been prevented or alleviated through proper hydration? For many of us, too many times. Staying properly hydrated is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to stay in good health. Unfortunately our sense of thirst, especially as we age, can be a poor indicator of our needs for fluids. Experts say that we are often dehydrated before we feel thirsty. However, we can start to develop good hydration habits so that we are functioning at our best.
Benefits of Drinking Water
The body is 60-70% water and adequate water intake helps to provide the following benefits:
- Flushes out wastes, transports nutrients, regulates body
temperature, maintains acid-alkaline balance and support chemical processes.
- Keeps skin moist, energy levels up and alleviates some headaches.
- Keeping well hydrated often helps to regulate appetite.
- People often mistake thirst and hunger, and eat when their bodies are actually craving fluid.
While becoming severely and acutely dehydrated can have dire consequences, studies have shown that a low level of chronic dehydration can also have negative effects. Having an adequate fluid intake can help avoid the potential effects of chronic low level dehydration listed below:
- Increased risk of developing urinary tract infections, kidney
stones and constipation (and its potential effects, including hemorrhoids and diverticulosis).
- Increased risk of bladder, breast and colon cancer.
- Mitral Valve Prolapse, with the symptoms of MVP actually
being a sign of low blood volume.
- An increase in fluid retention, as the body tries to hold on to
water for survival purposes as hydration levels decrease.
- An array of maladies can be caused or exacerbated by
chronic dehydration including heartburn and ulcers, fatigue, diabetes, depression, allergies, asthma, rheumatoid pain, back pain, heart pain, headaches, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and leg pain according to the physician F. Batmanghlidj who authored Your Body's Many Cries for Water.
- Other symptoms of dehydration include weakness, loss of
energy, muscle cramps and dizziness.
- Women going into premature labor are often given IV fluids,
and find the labor stopping as they hydrate. Some sources cite dehydration as a contributor to morning sickness also.
How much water do you need?
Various sources including the Mayo Clinic Women’s Health Source, say that you should aim for ½ oz. of water per pound of body weight. So for example, if you weigh 120 lbs., you would be drinking 60 oz. of water, or 7.5 cups of water per day. A 200 lb. person would require 12.5 cups daily. Andrew Weil, M.D., suggests less may be sufficient if the urine is light in color. Note that mouth breathers tend to tend more fluids as they tend to become dehydrated more easily.
by Marianne Woods Cirone, M.S., R.Y.T., Certified Yoga Teacher
Let's get to driking our water RIGHT NOW! Namaste, Emily
