| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Jen |
Posted - Dec 04 2007 : 12:28:15 PM
From the Ground Up
Simple Steps to Natural Health
By Jennifer Bové
“Water is Key to Wellness”
When we think of dehydration, we tend to picture some poor soul collapsing from heat exhaustion under the blazing August sun. But the fact is, you might be dehydrated right now and not even realize it.
Think back over the past few days and consider how often you felt a little extra tired, achy, irritable, had a headache, or had trouble concentrating on something you were doing. These are all symptoms of mild dehydration which have a big effect on how well you get through your day. By the time you actually feel thirsty, your memory and attention span may have already decreased by 10 percent, and mental performance deteriorates progressively as dehydration gets worse.
The same is true for kids in school. Imagine trying to pay attention and learn when you feel down and drained. Like the rest of us, kids may get cranky or just plain “slumpy” when they've gone too long without water. And in the long run, frequent dehydration has been shown to increase constipation, dry skin, asthma attacks, kidney and urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and some cancers.
The good news is that mild dehydration is easy to fix. Drinking water has an immediate revitalizing effect, so try it the next time you're feeling below your best. The key to boosting overall health and harmony, though, is to stay hydrated throughout each day (ideally from a personal water bottle within arm's reach, whether you're a grownup or a kid).
Tips for Beating Dehydration:
-Drink a glass of water first thing each morning.
-Drink often throughout the day rather than just a few big gulps at mealtimes.
-Every time you pass a drinking fountain or water cooler, stop for a drink.
-Carry a water bottle with you everywhere.
-Use the color of your urine as a guide for how well you're hydrating. If you “go” regularly and the output is pale yellow, you're drinking enough. If it starts looking like apple juice, you're not.
How much water should we drink?
The Institute of Medicine advises that men drink about about 13 cups (104 ounces) of liquid a day, women about 9 cups (72 ounces), and kids about 8 cups (64 ounces). These amounts should be consumed throughout the day, not in one or two slugs. Also, we should add a few extra cups on days when we're sweating, working/playing hard, or are sick—particularly with a fever.
The best source of hydration is water, hands-down. It's our bodies' # 1 ingredient. Beverages like soda, tea, coffee, juices, and sports drinks count, in part, toward our daily fluid intake, but they're not ideal because our kidneys have to filter out the sugar, caffeine, colors, and other chemical additives.
The bottom line: In order to feel great, we've got to drink water before thirst ever sets in—and make sure our kids do the same.
Raise a glass to your health!
Jen
Farmgirl Sisterhood Member #9
The View From My Boots: www.bovesboots.blogspot.com
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