The human body is composed of 25 percent solid matter and 75 percent water. Brain tissue is said to consist of 85 percent water! As we age, our thirst sensation gradually fails, and our body becomes chronically and increasingly dehydrated, from an early adult age. “Dry mouth” is the last outward sign of extreme dehydration.
I’ve witnessed this when my father has been rushed to the hospital because of extreme dizziness, garbled speech and a glazed look in his eyes. A few hours of being re-hydrated was like turning the clock back. He is present in his body, flirting with the nurses, and remembering the names of his children!
According to F. Batmanghelidj, M.D., author of Your Body’s Many Cries for Water, “dyspeptic pain, rheumatoid arthritis, angina pain (upon walking or even at rest), migraine and hangover headaches, colitis pain and its associated constipation” are all signs of your body’s need for more water.
Our bodies need an absolute minimum of six to eight glasses of water a day. The best time to drink water is 30 minutes before each meal and 2 1/2 hours after each meal. By doing so, you will be giving your body the very minimum amount of water it needs. However, don’t short change your body. Drink two more glasses of water around your heaviest meal or before going to bed. Remember, your thirst should be satisfied at all times.
Some believe that drinking coffee, tea, alcohol and manufactured beverages are substitutes for drinking water. These beverages do contain water, but they are dehydrating agents as well. There is no substitute for water.
When I asked my chiropractor, Dr. Dan Rhodes, what was the most important thing I could do to keep my spine strong and supple, he surprised me by saying drink plenty of water. And then I read in Your Body’s Many Cries for Water that 75 percent of the weight of the upper body is supported by the water volume that is stored in the disc core (5th lumbar disc), and 25 percent is supported by the fibrous materials around the disc. Water acts as the lubricating agent, as well as bearing the force produced by weight or tension produced by muscle action on the joint. Next time your lumbar spine is causing you problems, ask yourself, “Am I drinking enough water?”
If you’re having trouble drinking enough water, always be prepared to quench your thirst by keeping a bottle of water in your car, next to your computer and on your bedstand. Whenever you feel thirsty, grab your water bottle and take a swig. For those who don’t like the taste of water, add lemon to it.
Lemon added to your drinking water not only makes keeping hydrated easier, it also helps to great for detoxify your body. Try drinking your lemon water with 1 tsp. of raw, organic honey and you have created a healing remedy that is thousands of years old! Lemon and water helps your liver to flush out unwanted toxins, stimulates blood circulation, reduces arterial pressure and activates bile and intestinal secretions. Perhaps this is the fountain of youth many are looking for. In fact, Bamboo estetician Janine tells her clients the #1 ingredient for improving your skin’s appearance is not expensive products but water!
If you’re experiencing signs of dehydration try increasing your water intake. You should notice a difference almost immediately. Want to stay healthy? Then stay hydrated at all times.
Be well,
Darla
