Water, it's such an integral part of our planet and bodies. The Earth is made up of 70% water and 30% land; our bodies are also about 60-70% water.
We are water babies! I can't seem to drink enough pure H20 these days.
In this post you'll find out:
- How much water we really need to drink
- How to know if you're dehydrated
- Functions of water
- Water Tips & Tricks
- That not all water is created equal
- The pH levels of different bottled waters
- Benefits of drinking alkaline water
- How to kick your plastic habit
Now, for a few fun facts about me: As an Aquarius, I'm a natural water bearer. You won't see me leave home without a water bottle! I've always lived near the water and grew up in a city called Clearwater.
Let's jump in and find out the 101 about our good friend H20. Shall we?
How much water do I really need?
It's said that we should drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day OR half our body weight in ounces a day. An easy way to accomplish that goal is to drink a glass of H20 with and between every meal, plus one before breakfast and bed.
- Before Breakfast
- Breakfast
- After Breakfast
- Lunch
- After Lunch
- Dinner
- After Dinner
- Before Bed
I feel my best when I get in at least 2 liters (about 68 ounces). If I drink 3 liters (about 102 ounces) it starts to curb my appetite... and comes out clear!
How do I know if I'm dehydrated?
Symptoms of mild dehydration include chronic pains in joints and muscles, lower back pain, headaches, constipation, bright yellow or dark urine. Being hydrated can signal hunger - drink a glass of water and wait a few minutes, then evaluate your hunger level. Also if you're thirsty you're already dehydrated, so drink up! Mild dehydration has been shown to slow metabolism, which is not something you want when trying to get fit.
Functions of Water:
- Transports vitamins, minerals, amino acids, glucose, hormones, enzymes and other substances throughout your body
- Assists chemical reactions such as the burning of glucose and the breakdown of fat for energy
- Carries digestive juices
- Lubricates joints, eyeballs, nasal passages, and the intestines
- Is a shock absorber for your eyes and spinal cord
- Maintains your body temperature - cools it by evaporation from the skin and lungs, throws off heat when blood is circulated near the body's surface - helps retain warmth in winter
- Removes wastes through the kidneys and helps solid waste pass through the intestines
Water Tips & Tricks
The more active you are the more water your body needs to stay hydrated. Try to drink at least 16 ounces before and/or throughout your workout, then more post-workout if you can.
If you drink alcohol, soda, smoke, or eat junk foods your body needs more water. For every alcoholic, sugary or caffeinated beverage, drink a glass of pure water (and if you get an upset tummy: add lots of fresh lemon).
Bored with plain water?
Add some fresh lemon juice for detox in the morning and flavor during the day. Or try Grapefruit Essential Oil... use 1 drop per liter and get a lymphatic boost. Try mixing a little splash of your favorite pure fruit juice to your water.
Not All Water is Created Equal
You might be thinking, "water is just water, right?" Short answer: no, it's not. The quality of water does matter. I can taste the difference too!
In Florida, they put fluoride in the water supply. I avoid drinking or cooking with tap water at all costs. Why? Because fluoride is highly toxic. I even switched to a fluoride-free brand of toothpaste and added a shower filter. So tap water is out of the question for drinking.
Moving on to bottled water. I'm sure you've seen some of the warning signs about Bisphenol A (BPA) plastics. It's been all over the news for years. Read this article for details: Plastic Types, Dangers of Bisphenol A. Plus, the news about bottled water not being good for humans or the environment. Read this article for details: Bottled Water, Pure Drink or Hype?
So that throws most bottled water out.
Most water, no matter what the source, is not alkaline. Many are even acidic.
A pH of 8 and above is the only range that is beneficial to your good health:
Water with a pH of 4.
Penta Water, Distilled Water, Purified Water, Aquafina (made by Pepsi), Dasani (made by Coke), Glaceau Fruit Water, Le Blue Water, Metro Mint Water, Pellegrino (made by Nestle), Perrier (made by Nestle), Smart Water, and Vitamin Water
Water with a pH of 4.5.
Reverse Osmosis Water and Ice Age Glacial Water
Water with a pH of 5.
Appalachian Springs Water and Poland Springs Water (made by Nestle)
Water with a pH of 5.5.
Crystal Springs Water, Dannon Spring Water, Pure American Water
All of the above bottled waters have an acidic pH, which does not support health.
Water with a pH of 7.
Arrowhead Water, Crystal Geyser Water, Deep Park Water (made by Nestle), Eldorado Springs Water, Supermarket Spring Water
Water with a pH of 7.5.
Biota water, Fiji Water, Whole Foods 365 Water, Zephyrhills Water (made by Nestle)
Water with a pH of 7.9.
Eden Springs Water.
Water with a pH of 8.
Deep Rock Water, eVamor Water.
Water with a pH of 8.5-10.
Filtered Ionized Alkaline Water you make with your own Water Ionizer.
Health & Beauty Secret: Alkaline Water
I've been drinking alkaline water for years now. My absolute favorites brand is eVamor. I even did a marketing project on the brand in college. The problem with eVamor is that it only comes in 1 or 1.5 liter bottles and is a very expensive habit to maintain. There is a less expensive way to get alkaline water, but first...
Benefits of Alkaline Water:
- Increasing Intracellular Hydration
- Replenishing Essential Minerals
- Stabilizing and Protecting Cells
- Helping To Maintain Normal Blood Flow and Acid Alkaline Balance
- Flushing Out and Preventing Wastes from Accumulating in Cells
- Preventing Free Radicals from Forming and Damaging Other Cells
And the list goes on... here's another source with additional benefits of alkaline water.
About a year ago we received a Kangen Alkaline Water Ionizer at the T-Tapp office to use on trial. It easily hooks up to any sink, then you can select the alkalinity level you want. For drinking, stick to a pH of 8 or higher. It was amazing and we were all filling up our jugs to take home and enjoy the health and beauty benefits. Kangen water is very detoxing for the body. I could feel a difference after the first glass. Our trial period expired and we had to return the Kangen machine. It was a sad day.
After my car accident in December, a local T-Tapper called me at the office to invite me over to fill up jugs from her Kangen water machine. I was thrilled to be able to get alkaline water again, and for free! Lauren helped me out and filled up one of those big 5 gallon jugs you'd put on an office water machine. The water tastes so clean and clear. I love it! I'm really appreciative to have someone so kind in my life. Water can get expensive when you buy the "good" stuff!
Kick Your Plastic Habit
With all the recent media regarding the dangers of BPA in plastics, it's time to switch from your plastic one-time use water bottles to something healthier and more sustainable! I've been wanting to switch for a while now... for now these are on my wish list.
It's time to get #waterlogged!
If you're wondering what that # (hash mark) is all about, it's a Twitter thing. People tweet reminders daily to tell their friends and followers to get #waterlogged! Join us and be hydrated.
Au revoir!
1 comment:
Thank you for sharing this informative post.I would like to read such post regularly.Please Keep it on .........
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