THE ONE HABIT THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE: DRINK MORE WATER

It is believed that as many as 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.  Ironically, dehydration is considered one of the most  preventable medical conditions in the world. 

Although most folks drink about 8 servings of hydrating liquid a day, the caffeine, alcohol and sodium laden foods offset the positive effects of the hydrating liquid consumed. By the time we feel thirsty, dehydration has already been established.  But thirst is not the only symptom of dehydration.
 
Symptoms can affect every area of the body, especially the brain, the muscles and joints, and the skin. Did you know that the brain is comprised of 85% water? Being hydrated is crucial for proper brain function.  Even mild dehydration has been shown to cause lack of focus and short-term memory loss, as well as irritability and even anxiety.

Even though some health practitioners still commonly recommend eight 8-ounce glasses of water, many health experts are now saying that those guidelines may not be sufficient.  Recent recommendations are based more on the weight and activity level. Some suggest that you take your weight and divide it by two and that gives you a starting place of how many ounces of water you need a day.  So a 150 pound person would need to drink at least 75 ounces a day; even more (10-20 ounces) if the person is active.  
 
The muscles are 75% water.  Drinking water helps make your muscles less prone to fatigue and cramping, which contributes to proper muscle building.  Water also lubricates the joints.  Happy joints are essential to pain free movement!

Skin, which is 64% water, is one place where the lack of water is quite visible.  A quick look at our fingers can point to dehydration:  wrinkly fingertips (like after you’ve been swimming) can indicate a lack of enough water.  Dry, itchy, cracked skin, even WRINKLES, can be traced straight to the lack of sufficient water.
​
This one habit can be a game changer in a very short amount of time.  These are just a few issues helped by more water in your life.  If you would like to learn more ways to help you feel better fast, call me at 502-321-0557.  I can teach you some other great tools for feeling better in your mind and body, with yoga, Jin Shin Jyutsu and massage therapy.
​

---