Stay hydrated with the power of water

Sunday, May 29, 2011 by: Leigh Erin Connealy, M.D.
Tags: water, hydration, health news

(NewsTarget) With bottled water a multi-billion dollar industry, it would be easy to assume that Americans are thoroughly hydrated. The truth is dehydration is a common problem.

As much as 75 percent of the human body is water. Maintaining levels requires one to three liters of water daily. But even those who are sedentary need water because our bodies lose moisture continually - through urination, elimination of waste and toxins, sweating and even breathing. Many believe that chronic, low-grade dehydration is common place. Lack of sufficient fresh, clean water not only results in a long list of symptoms, but it also can be fatal.

Urine color is a good indicator of hydration. Ideally, urine should be colorless. Bright yellow to orange urine indicates too little water in the body. The only exception to this is that certain water-soluble vitamins, including C and B complex, may temporarily turn urine a bright yellow.

Other factors contributing to dehydration is dry mouth, hunger, fatigue, muscle cramps, brain fog, depression, anxiety, rapid heartbeat, nausea or vomiting and pain. So many people opt for super drinks, pain relievers and other ineffective remedies instead of reaching for a glass of water. Eating processed food, drinking a sugary beverage or taking a pain remedy when your body needs water only makes the dehydration worse, creating a vicious cycle.

The Standard American Diet (SAD) is high in a type of refined salt called sodium chloride, or common table salt. Unlike unrefined salt, which is a vitally important nutrient, sodium chloride is actually a toxin. Eating the processed foods found in the typical American diet translates into a whopping 4,000 to 6,000 mg of sodium chloride a day. That`s a very heavy toxic load for the body to deal with. Thus, the body wastes enormous amounts of water to counteract the toxic effects. So water that should be going to the cells and body`s organs is being diverted to cleaning up the sodium chloride. Kidney and gall stones, bloating from water retention, painful joints and other health issues are a direct result of sodium chloride consumption.

Many try to quench their thirst at the nearest vending machine, juice bar or coffee shop. It might seem like these other liquids would be just as hydrating as water, but that`s not the case. Guzzling soda, beer, coffee, tea or juice acts as a diuretic, removing water from the body faster than it normally would be eliminated.

To hydrate invest in a water ionizer/filtration system with a choice of pH levels or purchase a simple water filter to make sure the water you`re drinking is as clean and fresh as possible. Glass containers or stainless steel bottles are healthier than ordinary plastic water bottles. Drink 16 oz of water between breakfast and lunch and another 16 oz between lunch and dinner.

Pay attention to (signs). Symptoms like hunger, headaches, muscle cramps, heartburn and fatigue are frequently signs of thirst. Drink a glass of water, and then wait ten minutes to see if you feel better.

Stop consuming processed foods in order to reduce sodium chloride intake. Use as little unrefined salt as possible while cooking.

Enhance hydration by eating water producing vegetables and fruits.

Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea, cocktail or glass of wine with a glass of pure water to offset the diuretic effects of the alcohol or caffeine.

If water seems bland then try adding a touch of flavor. Wedges of watermelon, a slice of lemon or lime and a chunk of cucumber are all tasty additions to water with none of the side effects of sodas.

REFERENCES

Sharp RL. Role of whole foods in promoting hydration after exercise in humans. Journal of the American College of Nutrition 2007 Oct:26(5 Suppl):592S-596S.

Water: For Health, for Healing, for Life: You`re Not Sick, You`re Thirsty! By F. Batmanghelidj. Grand Central Publishing, 2003.

Water: The Ultimate Cure by Steve Meyerowitz. Sproutman Publications, 2000.

About the author

Leigh Erin Connealy, M.D. has specialized in Integrative Medicine for over twenty years, using conventional and natural methods to determine and discover the "root of the cause" in her clinic, Center for New Medicine in Irvine, California, each and every day. Many people come in to the clinic from all over the world with severe chronic illnesses that conventional medical protocols have been unsuccessful treating. She realized early on that she can truly change lives through education as well as treatment protocols.
Leigh Erin Connealy, M.D. and her medical staff strives to look at the whole person while exploring the effects and relationships among nutrition, psychological and social factors, environmental effects and personal attunement. Out of frustration of trying to find the right products to help her patients she formulated the perfectlyhealthy brand of products. All perfectlyhealthy products are clinically tested. For more information on recommended products, please visit www.perfectlyhealthy.net or www.perfectlyhealthy.com.