Proper Hydration

August 9th, 2007

Especially as the seasons change, it is important for all of us to make sure we are drinking enough water. Good health requires sufficient volume and adequate circulation of the body’s fluids. Muscle aches and injuries, headaches, irritability, reduced mental clarity, fatigue, constipation, and other complaints are more likely to occur if you are not maintaining a sufficient level of hydration. To avoid these conditions, make sure that you are taking frequent breaks to adequately replace the fluids of the body. The fluids of the body are not only in the blood stream, but in many other systems of the body as well. The nervous system,digestive system, lymphatic system and the connective tissue systems of the body all rely on the body being adequately hydrated. These systems all affect your immune system, as well as strength and resilience of muscle tissue. Just how much water you need to be drinking depends on many variables such as the size and type of your body, the types and amount of activity you are involved in and other factors. So how do you know if you are getting enough water? Here are a few guidelines: - If you are slightly thirsty, you are already operating on a deficit of fluids. - If you are very thirsty, your health risks are greatly increased without fluid intake. - If you are parched, with a dry throat, your systems could be in desperate need of fluids and should be attended to immediately. - If you are not thirsty, drink moderately. Drinking too much water can lower the level of electrolytes in your body, which are required for good health. - Drinking any non-alcoholic drink will replace fluids. Alcohol acts as a diuretic, forcing water out of the body. - Water is the most easily assimilated fluid for the body. Many people are so used to over-riding the urge to take a drink that they have lost touch with their ability to sense thirst. So, I invite you to take a moment several times a day, to see if your body is thirsty.