Fun facts…
- 55-60% of the body is made up of water.
- Humans can survive 6 weeks without food but only 3-4 days without water.
- The most common nutritional deficiency in the US today is water (not sure Australia / NZ are faring much better!).
Water plays numerous vitally important roles in the body, such as:
- improving oxygen delivery to our cells;
- transporting nutrients;
- enabling cellular hydration and cell to cell communication;
- moistening oxygen for breathing,
- cushioning and lubricating bones and joints;
- absorbing shock to joints and organs;
- regulating body temperature;
- removing waste;
- flushing toxins;
- preventing tissues from sticking;
- maintaining normal electrical properties of cells; and
- empowering the natural healing of the body.
Given its many functions in the body, water is one of the foundational pillars of good health and one so easily within your control to change and improve immediately.
Early signs of dehydration include fatigue, anxiety, irritability, depression, cravings, cramps and headaches which progress to heart burn, joint pain, back pain, migraines, fibromyalgia, constipation and colitis in the mature stages.
For best results, sip small amounts continuously over the course of the day rather than consuming large volumes at a time which will overload your kidneys and send you to the bathroom and can have the opposite effect of actually dehydrating you.
AND… I cannot express this one enough, invest in a quality water filter, I have a Zazen Alkaline filter which boosts electrolytes and minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium and silica to levels higher than your average sports drink (don’t get me started on those toxic bottles!). This filter also works to minimise flouride added to our water supply which is a known neurotoxin banned in most sensible countries (c’mon Australia catch up!).
AND you never need to buy a plastic bottle again!!! SAYING A BIG NO TO SINGLE USE PLASTIC (that’s a whole other post about plastic toxicity to the human body and the environmental impact…)
For the serious among you, I also filter my shower water through a Vitamin C filter which removes chemicals such as chlorine and ammonia. Why? Because your skin is your largest organ and you absorb chemicals directly through it. You also get a daily dose of Vitamin C thrown in which your body just loves. And, you are not inhaling chlorine and ammonia fumes for the duration of your shower.
Finally, a moment of deep gratitude… We are so fortunate in developed nations to have the luxury of clean, fresh water available to us literally on tap. We should all be doing all we can to make this luxury available to all human beings and to protect all of the water sources on this beautiful planet we are custodians of.
Namaste
Kerryelle
