Newletter Sept 2010: Water. It Does a Body Good.

Most of us are aware of the importance of drinking enough water. Getting our daily dose of water helps our organs perform their functions, keeps our skin clear and hydrated, and allows physical action in our bodies to flow smoothly. Even with this knowledge, it can still be challenging to drink all the water our bodies deserve daily. Those who are not drinking enough may experience poor digestion, sluggish thinking, skin breakouts, headaches, bad breath and general fatigue.

Here are 6 tips for staying hydrated:



1. Start each day with a glass of water (no ice). You can even put it by your bed the night before and drink it as soon as you wake up before you have coffee, tea or juice. It will help replace fluids lost overnight and get your hydration efforts off to a good start. Drinking water first thing in the morning pulls out toxins from the previous day and freshens your system for the day ahead. Also fill a water bottle you can take with you in the car, or keep with you and refill during the workday. If you drink most of your daily water before early evening, you most likely will not be thirsty before bed. This is good, because drinking before bed and then waking to use the bathroom disturbs your peaceful night's sleep.

2. Eat two or three servings of fruits and vegetables at every meal. They are brimming with water and include the minerals that help your body absorb and use it properly. Keep in mind that most processed foods (including sugars, flours, salty snacks and processed meats) result in a lowering of the body's water table. Eating a lot of meat puts pressure on your kidneys and tends to increase your body's need for water.

3. Establish regular water breaks, if possible. Tailor your drinking to meet your needs. For instance, drink an extra glass of water if you worked out or didn't squeeze enough fruits and vegetables into your day.

4. Substitute sparkling water and low-sodium vegetable juice for soda and fruit juice. While it's true that all beverages count toward your daily tally, the sugar in regular soda and fruit juice, as well as the chemicals in diet versions, can trigger a host of unwanted reactions in the body, including blood-sugar spikes.

5. Install water filters in your home and use a pitcher-type filter at the office. Resort to bottled water when you must, but beware of the drawbacks: It's expensive and environmentally wasteful, the plastic contains harmful chemicals that can leach into the water, and there are no guarantees that bottled water is any better for you than the water flowing from the tap.

6. Cook with high-quality sea salt. A good, unrefined sea salt is rich in trace minerals, which are key to cell health and hydration. Bonus: Sea salt is also lower in sodium than table salt.

Don't like the taste of water or get bored with just drinking water? Try adding a few mint leaves, a wedge of lemon, a sprig of parsley, slices of cucumber, a twist of lime or a squeeze of orange to make water more tempting. Also, drinking tea or juice and eating raw fruits and vegetables contribute to the hydration process. So drink up for more energy, less hunger, better skin, and a happier body!!!