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13/01/11 Sup up

Now, I don’t want to go on about it, as people tend to glaze over when I mention it, but water water water!

Our bodies are around 70% water and because we do not store excess water, we must ensure that our daily diet contains a sufficient supply to maintain adequate health.

Water is essential for our health, it is one of the basics, yet it is ignored by so many people, I know so many who will spend a fortune on supplements, and a whole host of beauty products, yet drink maybe a glass or two a day of fresh water from the tap. Although water contains no calories and may contain no micronutrients, it is an indispensable aid to digestion, nutrient absorption and waste elimination . Yep that’s right, if you don’t drink enough water those expensive vitamins and minerals cannot be utilised by your body and will simply be passed out without touching the sides.  It also helps regulate circulation, body temperature and a host of other biochemical reactions. Water lubricates joints and maintains healthy skin. It’s worth remembering that we can exist without food for months, but without water for only a few days.

Even mild dehydration slows down metabolism. Did you know that dehydration can also manifest as hunger?  Feeling thirsty isn’t always a reliable sign for dehydration and before you know it you could experience the following symptoms:

  • Dark-coloured urine
  • Headaches
  • Constipation
  • Confusion and irritability
  • Poor concentration
  • Dry mouth
  • Tiredness
  • Dizziness

Guidelines are that you could try and drink around 1.5 – 3 litres of water  a day for an adult, it depends on your size, age, weight, muscle mass etc so this is only a guesstimate.     Coffee and tea doesn’t count, nor do carbonated drinks or alcohol, although many say they do and indeed they do have a water content, this is often completely wiped out by the dehydrating effect of the caffeine in the said beverage, so herbal tea, pure water, perfect.

Have a go at water drinking and see how it makes you feel after a couple of weeks.  We would be really interested in your feedback, if you would like further reading, Dr Batmanghelidj’s book ‘your bodies many cries for water’ is controversial, has been pulled apart by many and labelled a ‘wako’ idea, I find it absolutely fascinating and believe much of it to be true.