Brenda Skidmore's Health Tips

Water is so critical to every system in the body. Most everyone knows and understands this information, yet most people will find it really tough to implement the psychological effort in developing a life-long water drinking habit, much less stick with a good intention long enough to reap the cheap and simple health benefits associated with it. There are so many manufactured beverages available on the market that can distract a person's good intentions. It has been said, and I have no clue who first uttered this statement, that the road to hell has been paved with good intentions. I find this applicable to this post, and very amusing when it comes to all types of recreational, health, sport, and energy drinks vying for our attention and $$.

It seems like I have spent a lot of time on this page repeating this same old important health message. That is because it is so relevant to today's modern lifestyles. Informing, persuading, and reminding are often the most effective strategy tools I know of. It seems to help those who are resisting their own health improvements, by becoming a little better at allowing themselves more enjoyment of the great health changes they say they so desperately want.

Learn to love, forgive, and own, the many mistakes that we all make while traveling down this road we call our 'life', because that is where changes of the heart, and eventually our minds, will come from. And, from these changes comes a very motivating mantra that says, "it's never too late to start turning things around". What is even more powerful is you can start right now.


So why is it important to drink plenty of water?


Did you know that we can survive more than a month without food, but only a few days without water? Water helps regulate our body temperature, protects vital organs and tissues, carries nutrients and oxygen to cells, helps lubricate joints and tissues, helps keep skin moist and supple, and flushes away built up toxins in the body. These are just a few of the highlights. There are many more reasons and some, I'm sure, that we do not fully understand just yet.

Those that are in resistance mode will argue that too much water is bad for you. It is true that too much of anything, even a good thing like water, can have a negative impact on the body. But far, far more people are suffering from the health effects of extreme water shortages than the opposite. With that in mind, when one is in a true, allowing state of mind this next question will often be asked.


How much water should I be drinking every day?


On average, a healthy adult needs about 8 to 12 cups of water per day. Some studies have suggested this may be the bare minimum amount one could get by with in replacement of the amount that is lost due to perspiration, breathing, urination and bowel movements. Each individual is different in their water requirements due to many factors such as age, gender, weight, health status, level of physical activity, foods eaten, weather conditions, and medications that are being taken.


When is the best time of day to drink water?


Beginning first thing in the morning upon arising, and throughout the day's activities. Slow down about one to two hours before bedtime. Start the day out with filling a 64 ounce (2 quart) to 96 ounce (3 quart) container of water. This helps remind you of how much you are actually drinking so you won't have to guess.

Be aware that more water may be needed before and after a long and strenuous physical work out, and in extreme hot and humid conditions. Just replenish what you are, inevitably, going to lose. That's all your body requires of you.


What are some of the lesser known facts about the benefits of drinking enough water?


Drinking a full glass ( or two ) of water about an hour before a meal helps give you a feeling of fullness. Drink very little during your meal, just enough to help wash it down. Resume drinking water again about an hour after your meal. Too much liquid intake during a meal can weaken stomach acid juices from properly breaking down food on their own before it empties the contents into the intestines. Water, after that point, plays a huge role in the digestion process.

Water is your body's preferred liquid source, and an extra added bonus is it's calorie free! High fiber diets also require additional water to process the extra roughage, and to keep you from becoming constipated.


What happens to the body if it does not get enough water?


Dehydration occurs when you do not have enough water to help your body function properly. Dehydration causes a multitude of symptoms ranging from fatigue/tiredness, low energy, depression, headaches, nausea, dizziness/light headed, heat strokes, joint and muscle pain, stomach ulcers, hiatal hernia, excess body weight, and high blood pressure. This is not an exhaustive list, to learn more about this subject read this interesting book.

How can I tell if I'm drinking enough water?

The color of your urine is one of the easiest visual assessments of hydration. Dark colored urine usually means you need to drink more. However, vitamin supplements can cause darker urine colors. After allowing for that, your urine should be a very light color otherwise. The lighter in color, the more hydrated you are. The amount or volume that is being excreted may be a better indicator though.

The only downside, that I can see, to drinking more water is you will be stopping to let it out a little more often. The upside is self-explanatory from the many health benefit examples listed above. So tell me which problem would you rather have?

No doubt that bottled water has been a huge success over the last ten years or so. Now, there is a surge of new flavored waters available on the market. Keep in mind that flavored waters are more expensive, add to the growing landfill problem, and some contain calories. If you are bored with plain water and need a little variety once in a while there are a few calorie-free products out there. Read labels carefully because some have added sweetening ingredients that you may not want. Or, you can try adding a few squirts of your favorite fruit juice to make it taste a little differently.

In the debate over which type of water source to drink from, tap or filtered, I will leave this decision up to you. Do what ever makes you feel the most comfortable. Purified water is water taken from any source and has been processed to remove most contaminants, minerals, and impurities by a filter system.

Avoid distilled water, as it is not recommended to be used as drinking water. You can filter your own drinking water, and many choose to do so. How elaborate of a filtration system you choose will probably depend on what you can afford, but in the long run will save you quite a bit of money when compared to buying filtered bottled water. The bottom line is this, it comes down to your personal choices and consuming plenty of it for optimal health.