Everyone knows that water is “good” for the body, yet they do not know what happens to the body if it does not receive its daily need of water. It’s an issue many people experience and fail to address adequately. Commercially manufactured beverages such as tea, coffee, alcohol, and soda are deemed desirable substitutions for natural water needs, but this is a fatal misunderstanding. Yes, these beverages indeed contain water, but they also contain dehydrating agents. We will touch on four topics:
- Why water is essential for every function and system in the body
- The effects of dehydration
- The importance of quality water
- Simple strategies to ensure proper hydration
All Body Functions & Systems Need It
Our body is composed of about 75 percent water, and we need to replenish that water daily. Eleven systems make up the body, and each has a specific role but work collectively. A shortage of water in anyone, and they all struggle to function efficiently. Ultimately, impacting optimum health and creating imbalances that lead to diseases. Think of a football team on offense, there are eleven players on the field and each player has a different role in helping score a touchdown. But without the quarterback, a team would experience difficulty with this task. Water is the quarterback and serves the same importance for the ten body systems and is the regulator of all of the body’s functions. Without water, the body would lack energy and fail to operate optimally.
It’s universally known that water is a solvent and a means of material transport in the body. In other words, water:
- Helps your body absorb nutrients
- Helps to convert food into energy
- Removes toxins
- Regulates your body temperature
- Moistens oxygen for breathing
- Aid in the elimination of waste in cells
The list is extensive, and water’s role for the body is undeniable, but the point is, water is vital for life. There’s a reason why no human can go more than three to four days without water.
Effects of Dehydration
I never understood why people waited until they were thirsty or had a dry mouth to drink water. Some causes of dehydration vary depending on your activity level, use of medication, environment, and age. Diarrhea can severely dehydrate the body and upset its electrolyte balance. Stress, in any form, is translated to dehydration in the body. A lack of liquid in the diet causes chronic dehydration. It can be one of the major contributing factors to constipation.
Once you’re dehydrated you become amino acid-deficient, you also become mineral deficient, which is the foundation for all diseases in the human body.
Your Body’s Many Cries For Water, Dr. Fereydoon Batmanghelidj
Approximately one-half of American adults have at least one preventable chronic disease. The SAD (Standard American Diet) is full of CRAP (Carbohydrates, Refined sugars, Additives, and Preservatives). Americans exceed caloric needs due to vitamin and mineral requirements not being met daily. Along with inadequate water intake and there are millions of dehydrated and malnourished people.
For an in depth explanation about dehydration and its correlation to disease, click here.
Visit Dr. Fereyoon’s website for additional resources and scientific documents supporting his findings at www.watercure.com
Be Picky With Your Choices
Quality water is as essential as hydrating your body. The ideal pH for water consumption is seven; our body’s pH is about the same. The range may vary a little higher, but anything below seven and it becomes acidic water- consequently making you more dehydrated. Your body will not absorb the water if the pH is below seven. Also, cold water will sit in your stomach and not be absorbed until it reaches body temperature- room temperature is ideal.
Supermarkets have a variety of water choices, but all bottled water is not suitable for you. Some of the top quality brands are Eternal, Evian, Fiji, and Volvic. Artesian water is ideal.
Tap water often contains a variety of unhealthy contaminants, including microorganisms (bacteria, virus, or fungus), heavy metals, chlorine, fluoride, pharmaceutical drugs, and other waterborne toxins. A whole house filtration system is a premium, long-term investment that will minimize exposure to all these toxic chemicals. Another choice like an under-sink water filter is less expensive. For lower budget options, try a countertop filter or a faucet attachment. Filtered pitchers and dispensers are both budget-friendly options, too.
Strategies to Ensure Adequate Hydration
One of the best times to hydrate is first thing in the morning when you wake up to offset the dehydration of overnight. A strategy I use with clients is setting alarms on your phone throughout the day as reminders. The key is changing your environment to support your efforts. Place sticky notes where you spend the majority of your time – desk at work or home, kitchen, etc. A glass of water anywhere from half an hour to an hour before food is another strategy to use. Remember, I mentioned water as a solvent and means of material transport in the body. Well, water before a meal aids in digestion. Then, two to three hours after the meal, another glass will help wrap up the digestion process. Boredom typically causes mindless eating, and dehydration is often mistaken for hunger. A strategy I use personally to offset this is “sip and sit.” Drink enough water to fill your mouth, sit, swish it around for about ten seconds, then ingest. Feel the water against your teeth and gums, and try to taste the minerals. Repeat for one to three minutes.
Humans have needs that motivate behavior. Water is one of the physiological needs, and failure to satisfy it will result in the body failing to operate optimally. Physiological needs are the foundation for human motivation and development. If you’re chronically dehydrated but trying to fulfill other secondary needs, your survival instincts will involuntarily kick in and affect your quality of life. Dehydration is a fundamental problem with a simple solution.
Drink quality water.
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