"Water water everywhere but not a drop to drink" Myth or Fact

Restoring your body to its optimal state is very important. When your body is getting all it needs we will notice things in our body working a lot better. Like more energy, improved moods and over all better health. Now that you have fed your body it is time to do the most important thing you can do. Most people forget to do this and it just so happens that your body needs but most of us are so busy and forget to do it. What I am talking about is hydration. Not just any form of hydration, I am talking about drinking water.

Everyone needs it but yet most of us are so busy running around with our busy lives to take a moment to do this and our bodies suffer from it. Did you know that the body is composed of up to 75% water? So wouldn't it be obvious to make sure you are drinking enough water? Surprisingly most people don’t hydrate the way they need to. It’s not because they don’t want to but because they are so busy they forget to. Some people think they are yet are falling majorly short in this department.  Some also think they are but are actually drinking things like soda that are actually dehydrating them even more. Have you ever been out in the summer heat and got thirsty so you grabbed you a cold soda? How long did it take before you had to grab another one because you where thirsty yet again? I bet it wasn't long after you drank that soda that you were even thirstier than you where before you drank it. Have you ever wondered why this happens?  

Studies show that drinking non water drinks like sodas and artificially sweetened drinks add to the body’s toxin burden which dehydrates you even more. These create an acidic environment in the body causing a heavy load on the kidneys. Your kidneys have one major job to do and that is to rid your body of excess acid.  This in turns requires your body to use more water to enable the kidneys to do their job.  These drinks are also diuretics. Meaning that they elevate your blood pressure, causing you to urinate even more making you dehydrate faster. Just like when out at sea, they tell you not to drink salt water. That is because your body needs 3 cups of water for every cup of salt you drink just so your body can process the toxic salt from your body. Another reason why sports drinks are not good for you to drink either is because they contain a high content of salt.  If I am thirsty, does this mean I am dehydrated? Well, this is actually a tricky question because a lot of people are actually dehydrated on some level and just don’t even know it. Your body will actually send out little clues to you that will help let you know that you are dehydrated.  Some of these little clues are headaches, stomachaches, low energy and even dry skin. By the time you feel thirsty you are already in the clinical state of dehydration. Is what I mean is that by the time you feel that urge to drink your blood has already gotten thicker and it’s concentration levels have risen. It is still not at the dangerous levels and is considered mild dehydration but it is not to be over looked. Mild dehydration can still cause havoc on your body by slowing your metabolism and optimum vitality. The point I am getting at is don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink. Your body needs consistent water throughout the day to maintain itself. Once that water starts to deplete problems start to arise.

That time of the month is the worst time for us women because it is when we lose the most water. Due to the amount of water that is lost during our menstrual cycle. Have you ever noticed bloating and fatigue during that time? That is because your body is screaming at you that it needs water. This next part is really going to freak you out but did you know the more water you drink, the less you retain? I didn't know this till recently and I am glad I do now. Your body bloats and retains water because your body doesn't know when it is going to get it next. Just like with food, when you deprive your body of something it needs, it is going to hold onto it for dear life.  If you drink enough water like your body needs you to, you will notice little to no bloating because your body is getting what it needs so there is no use of holding onto extra.  I know that sounds pretty confusing. I mean drink more to retain less? It does come as a shocker but if you remember this next time you menstruate. You will thank me for it.

One important trick to remember when it comes to hydrating your body is very simple. To hydrate your body properly you need to drink 1/2 ounce for every pound you weigh. Does this sound pretty easy to remember? Another way you can think of it is to take your weight and divide it by half. That number is how many ounces you need to drink. So if you weigh 250 pounds you will need to drink at least 125 ounces of water a day. As you see that is pretty simple way to know how much water you need to drink. An even easier way to do it is if you weigh 250 pounds, go buy you a gallon jug and fill it full of water. That is your daily water intake. If you weigh 150 you will need 75 ounces of water a day. That is a little more than 2 liters of water a day. You can get that by going to the store and getting one of the big bottles of water. Or if you don’t want to do that, then just fill you a gallon jug half full and there you go. You can drink more than that but that is your base number. Especially if you are active, you need to drink at least that but preferably more because as you sweat, you lose some of that water. So make sure you are drinking more than that. Drinking the proper amount of water can also help you on your diet as well. Did you know that a lot of time when you feel hungry, you are actually thirsty? This is because the feelings of being hungry and thirsty are a lot alike and so sometimes it is hard to tell the difference. If you feel hungry drink 8 ounces of water and if you are still hungry then eat. If the hunger goes away right after you drink then you where thirsty. Also when you drink an 8 ounce glass of water before you eat it will help prevent over eating.  You will also eat on average, 75 fewer calories during your meal because your stomach already has that water in it taking up a bunch of room so it makes you full faster. Drinking water also helps with your metabolism because your metabolism is like a series of little different chemical reactions that are taking place all over your body.  Just like a car or anything else mechanical, if it has enough fluid it runs smoothly. If it doesn't however problems start to arise.

Rest assured that once you start drinking the proper amount of water you will also notice some positive changes. The one I noticed first was that I had lots more energy. I was up doing things I was too tired to do before. I also noticed my mood was better. I wasn't as depressed anymore. This is because your brain is made up of 85% water. If your body is lacking enough water on a daily basis, your brain will get sick of sorts. When your brain is dehydrated it can’t function the way it needs to.  Also drinking the sports drinks and other non-water drinks force your body to take water from any place it can. Like your organs, your bones your skin and even your brain. This is why it is so important to drink water. It is not only for your physical health, but for your mental health as well. This too will help you in fighting your inner demons because they will be too busy swimming and having fun. Not literally but you get what I am saying. A quote from Dr. F. Batmanghelidj, M.D., author of YOUR BODY’S MANY CRIES FOR WATER, states:

"Pathology that is seen to be associated with 'social stresses' -- fear, anxiety, insecurity, persistent emotional and matrimonial problems -- and the establishment of depression are the results of water deficiency to the point that the water requirement of brain tissue is affected. The brain uses electrical energy that is generated by the water drive of the energy-generating pumps. With dehydration, the level of energy generation in the brain is decreased. Many functions of the brain that depend on this type of energy become inefficient. We recognize this inadequacy of function, and call it depression."

Everyone needs water. I am not saying only women need water but guys, you need it just as much. I don’t care if you are male, female, black, blue, brown, pink, tall, short, extra weight or thin as a rail. We all need water. The only thing different is the amount we need. No two humans are alike. Just like no 2 peoples body will need the exact same amount of water. Some may do perfect by drinking their minimum amount of water and be fine. While others have to drink a little more to get that same feeling. I do have a word of caution that you need to take into consideration. If you are not use to drinking your recommended amount, do not go and start drinking that amount right away. It will send your body into shock and your body will not know what to do with all the excess. This can cause just as much harm to your body as it would if you didn't give it enough. You need to slowly start working your way up to the proper amount. I really hope you guys take my advice into consideration because this is very important. It helps you become the person you are trying to be and makes you healthy in the process. 

I want to take the time and thank you all for reading all 4 of the ‘About Me’ posts, or which I was told ‘for a better you’ is a better name for it.  Tomorrow we will discuss the importance or relaxation and the why a rest day or ‘me day’ is something you need to incorporate in your daily life. Don’t forget to eat right, be active, drink plenty of water and most of all sweat pink. 

Research credit can be found at:

http://owen.curezone.com/healing/depressiondehydration.html

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/8-common-myths-about-dehydration.html