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Benefits of Drinking
Water and Health Information On The
Importance Drinking
Water Drinking Water
Filters
Drinking Water Systems
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by Marianne Woods Cirone,
M.S., R.Y.T., Certified Yoga Teacher
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How
many times a day do we feel our energy falling and reach for food when we
are actually in need of water? How often do we spend time and
money on medical treatment for conditions that could have been prevented
or alleviated through proper hydration? For many of us, too many
times. Staying properly hydrated is one of the easiest and least
expensive ways to stay in good health. Unfortunately our sense of
thirst, especially as we age, can be a poor indicator of our needs for
fluids. Experts say that we are often dehydrated before we feel
thirsty. However, we can start to develop good hydration habits so that we
are functioning at our best.
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| The following provides a summary of the
following topics: |
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Benefits
of drinking water. |
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How much
water you really need. |
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Why you may not be getting
enough water. |
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How you can incorporate more
water into your daily routine. |
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What
type of water to drink. |
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Water
Filters
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| Benefits of Drinking Water |
| The body is 60-70% water and adequate water
intake helps to provide the following benefits: |
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Flushes
out wastes, transports nutrients, regulates body |
| temperature,
maintains acid-alkaline balance and support chemical processes. |
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Keeps
skin moist, energy levels up and alleviates some headaches. |
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Keeping
well hydrated often helps to regulate appetite. |
| People often
mistake thirst and hunger, and eat when their bodies are actually
craving fluid. |
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| While
becoming severely and acutely dehydrated can have dire consequences,
studies have shown that a low level of chronic dehydration can also have
negative effects. Having an adequate fluid intake can help avoid the
potential effects of chronic low level dehydration listed below: |
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Increased
risk of developing urinary tract infections, kidney |
| stones and
constipation (and its potential effects, including hemorrhoids and
diverticulosis). |
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Increased
risk of bladder, breast and colon cancer.
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Mitral
Valve Prolapse, with the symptoms of MVP actually |
| being a sign of low
blood volume. |
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An
increase in fluid retention, as the body tries to hold on to
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survival purposes as hydration
levels decrease.
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An
array of maladies can be caused or exacerbated by |
| chronic dehydration
including heartburn and ulcers, fatigue,
diabetes, depression, allergies, asthma, rheumatoid pain, back pain,
heart pain, headaches, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels
and leg pain according to the physician F. Batmanghlidj who authored Your Body's Many Cries for Water. |
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Other
symptoms of dehydration include weakness, loss of
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cramps and dizziness.
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Women
going into premature labor are often given IV fluids, |
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labor stopping as they hydrate.
Some sources cite dehydration as a contributor to morning
sickness also. |
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| How much water do you need?
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Various
sources including the Mayo Clinic Women’s Health Source, say that you
should aim for ½ oz. of water per pound of body weight. So for example,
if you weigh 120 lbs., you would be drinking 60 oz. of water, or 7.5 cups
of water per day. A 200 lb. person would require 12.5 cups daily. Andrew
Weil, M.D., suggests less may be sufficient if the urine is light in
color. Note that mouth breathers tend to tend more fluids as they
tend to become dehydrated more easily.
Recent headlines stated that since food
contains water, there is no need to drink an
additional eight glasses per day. However, the amount of water in your
food depends on what you are eating. If you are eating a lot of fruits,
vegetables or soups, your fluid intake may be adequate. Consider though,
that, a slice of bread has less than two teaspoons of water in it.
Additionally, the
amount which is required to sustain life vs. that is required for optimal
health and vitality may differ substantially. Objective tests for
hydration include the color of your urine (it should be light colored) as
well as a blood test. It is
preferable to sip water throughout the day rather than to chug it because
it will give your body more time to absorb it, according to The Detox Solution
by Patricia Fitzgerald.
What
counts as a glass of water?
Eight ounces of pure water, diluted fruit
juice, herb tea, or decaffeinated coffee or tea are counted fully toward
the total, although there may be drawbacks to the fruit juice (sugar) and
the coffee (chemicals used in the decaffeination process). Some sources
suggest that because of the potentially dehydrating effects, black or
green tea, caffeinated sodas, and coffee count as 50% water. Any type of
alcoholic beverage counts as 0% water, and is considered dehydrating. A
study showed that adults who drank six cups of coffee daily experienced
chronic mild dehydration, since they lost an average of 2.7 of total body
water. (Alcohol inhibits the productions of ADH, the anti-diuretic hormone
so your body loses more fluids.)
Drinks containing caffeine and
other chemicals can be taxing to the digestive system. The phosphorus
content in cola drinks is so high it can lead to an calcium/phosphorus
imbalance and contribute to diseases like osteoporosis. The high sugar
content of some beverages including fruit juices can lead to insulin
resistance, weight gain, and kidney problems. According to Dr. Andrew
Weil, Integrative Medicine expert, the high fructose corn syrup found in
many juices can negatively affect brain functioning.
How
to increase your water consumption
An easy way to boost your fluid intake is
to start the day with a fresh cup or two of water or a cup or two of
herbal tea. These first glasses of water are so critical because you are
reversing any mild dehydration that may have occurred overnight,
especially if you cut off your water consumption a couple of hours before
bedtime in order to reduce nighttime trips to the bathroom. If you are in
the habit of showering and dressing before you go to the kitchen in the
morning, you could leave a cup or bottle of water handy for you to drink
during your dressing routine. I always bring a huge cup of water with me
when I take a bath, and the combination of the heat and the drinking of
the water feels so detoxifying and refreshing. Some say beginning the day with a cup of
hot water with 1 tsp. of lemon juice and perhaps a bit of honey helps to
detoxify the body and improve digestion by releasing bile from the liver and
improving
elimination. In the mornings I like an herbal tea called by
Celestial Seasonings called A.M. Detox, which is said to stimulate the
liver function.
It is best to drink water on an empty stomach in
order to avoid unnecessary dilution of digestive juices, so
about a half hour before meals drink a glass of water. Try to get
into the habit of bringing a water bottle with you when you go out,
whether to shop, walk or to an activity. There is nothing worse than
getting to an event an finding that your only option for water is a
yucky-looking water fountain. An easy way to keep bottles
handy is to freeze an half a bottle of water and then fill it up the rest
of the way before
you go out. Just remember not to re-use plastic bottles from bottled
water more than once or twice because they can leech harmful
chemicals as the plastics begin to break down.
If you get bored with drinking plain water,
try lemon, lime or even cucumber slices in your water (a hot trend).
Low-sodium club soda is an option with 0 calories. The herbal
sweetener Stevia helps to make a nice, sweet drink like lemonade or iced
tea without sugar or potentially harmful chemicals. There are dozens
of types of herbal teas that are excellent hot or iced. You can also
mix different types of teas for a new blend of iced teas, the bags
steep if you leave in a pitcher of water in the refrigerator for several
hours or overnight
Smoothies made with fruit (frozen organic
is great), yogurt (plain, low fat), soy protein powder, ground flax seed
and water or skim or soy milk are tasty and healthy. Remember that
the most of the healthiest foods are also loaded with water. Some foods
that are packed with water are of course soups, plus all fruits and
vegetables, but especially watermelon, oranges, apples, cucumbers, iceberg
lettuce and tomatoes. The new immersion blenders are great for
making soups by simply sautéing a few roughly chopped vegetables (choose
from some such as carrots, onions, mushrooms, spinach, cauliflower and
then add a peeled potato or two to thicken), adding water and seasonings,
and then simmering and blending for a delicious way to get fiber, vitamins
and fluids.
Cautions
to consider
People with kidney problems or other
conditions were fluid intake needs to be limited should be following their
doctor’s recommendations, and the appropriate sodium intake is
essential. One potential but rare side effect of fluid
intake can be hypoatremia in which electrolytes become imbalanced. Note
also that you may need to increase your salt intake as your fluid intake
increases, and possibly some orange juice or other item for its potassium content, so
discuss this with your health care provider.
Water Purification & Water Filtration
Systems
Once
you decide to drink more water, water quality is a huge issue. If
you are drinking bottled water, you may not know that bottled water does
not have the same stringent standards as tap water does, with some states
having no regulation at all. Studies show that about 1/3 of bottled
water exceeds state limits for contaminants, and that another 25% of
bottled water is tap water.
According to the National Sanitation Foundation some of
the top-rated waters bottled waters are: Dannon, Evian, Volvic and
Mountain Valley. If you decide to use a water cooler, become
informed as to the source and quality of the water.
In his book Water,
the Ultimate Cure, Steve Meyerowitz says that filtering tap water is a
highly recommended
method of ensuring a clean and pure water supply. His book provides an
in-depth an look at the various types of water filters. According to
Meyerowitz, simple carbon filters in a pitcher, on a faucet or under a sink
are inexpensive and effective, although the filters do need to be changed
regularly. Activated charcoal (carbon) filters remove organic
compounds, odors, tastes, pesticides and some remove heavy metals.
Water Filters
Now that you have read about the
importance of drinking enough pure water, if you are interested in taking
the next step you can review many models of charcoal/carbon-based water
purification products available for purchase by clicking on Drinking
Water Filters. There are counter top, refrigeration, pitcher, faucet mount
and coffee maker styles of water filters and replacement filter cartridges
available.
Metaphysical
Considerations
Metaphysically
speaking, water is the element related to the second chakra or energy
center, located in the pelvis. Proper water intake helps to regulate
this chakra, also known as the emotional center, which allows
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you to feel
pain and pleasure. An under functioning second chakra may be
manifested in repressed feelings, and an over stimulation could be
manifested in addictions or greed. Physical problems with
the reproductive organs, kidneys and bladder. Therapies for the 2nd
chakra include water intake, swimming and luxurious baths or showers.
Sonia Choquette, author of The Psychic Pathway
says that an adequate intake of water is critical to
the physiological state conducive to psychic work. When I took my |
| chronically dehydrated (my opinion, although it has manifested in a
variety of physical ailments including kidney stones, diverticulosis and
other problems) mother for a consultation with Linda Fallucca, a
wonderfully talented spiritual advisor and clairvoyant, the first thing
that she told her was: you need to drink more water, and I don’t
know if any of her doctors had told her that.
More
uses for water |
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For
those of you who are interested in more creative uses for water, try the
comprehensive resource entitled The Complete Book of Water Healing
by Dian Dincin Buchman, Ph.D. This book has hundreds of great ideas,
including water to be ingested, applied as hot or cold streams, in
compresses, whirlpools, as a mouthwash, tea, and many other ways.
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