I hope this finds you well hydrated, if not please read on. Hydration can be a major stumbling block for many people when trying to achieve a health and fitness goal. Did you know your body is 60% water? Not only that, your brain tissue is staggering 85% water! This vital element plays many crucial roles within your body including: digestion, transportation of nutrients, and elimination of waste, circulation of blood, lubrication of joints and internal organs and regulation of body temperature, just to name a few. It has been estimated that 75% of the western population is chronically dehydrated so it may surprise you to know that it is recommend you should drink ½ your body weight in ounces of pure water daily to remain adequately hydrated.
Here are some facts you should know about water:
- The number 1 trigger of daytime fatigue is dehydration.
- 37% of people mistake thirst for hunger.
- A 2% drop in body water can cause short term memory loss.
- One glass of water can shut down on midnight hunger pangs.
Dehydration is often correlated with serious health conditions including, renal dysfunction, endocrine imbalance, adrenal fatigue, high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems, arthritis, ulcers, pancreatitis, digestive difficulties and lower back pain.
- Asthma is often misdiagnosed cases of chronic dehydration.
- Your mucosal layer, which protects the stomach from hydrochloric acid is 98% water.
- Drinking water can reduce the risk of colon cancer by 45%.
- Chronic pains should be first treated with rehydration.
- A ‘dry mouth’ is the very last sign of dehydration.
- Dehydration causes stress, which raises cortisol levels, which leads to a storage of fat around your mid-section.
- 80% of back and joint pain can be eased by rehydrating.
A high intake of coffee, soda drinks, juice, processed milk (pastuerised/homoginised), alcohol and tea actually takes more water to process through the body than it delivers. Remember, a dry mouth means that the body has gone past a moderate dehydrated state and into a serious dehydrated state.
The following is a guide to estimate how much water you should aim for each day.
Body Weight (kg) X 0.033 = How much clean filtered water you should aim for daily (L)
However, this is a guide, remember to listen to your body and be careful not to over hydrate. A great hydration tip is to monitor the colour of your urine, and aim to keep this within a golden straw colour.
Happiness and Health
Karl.