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Your Health Matters
You may want to get yourself a drink of water before you read this message. I have my bottle of water at my computer as I write. Now I'm ready to pour it on… This is late winter nearing springtime and you may think you don't need as much water as in the summer, but you need it every season and drinking it is the simplest, smartest health advice available. Not only is water a VITAL key to staying well in warmer weather; the entire year it turns out to be a fatigue fighter, cancer combatant, diet booster and more. The good news: Americans have developed a love affair with water. More and more of us buy bottles of it instead of cans of soda, order it in restaurants, keep pitchers of filtered water in the fridge and consider downing a few glassfuls a daily essential. The bad news: We still don't drink enough of the stuff. And getting at least eight glasses' worth- whether it's through water itself, juice, milk or waterrich fruits and vegetables- is even more important as the dog days of summer settle in and as we are healing the dry skin days of winter! Why at least two quarts a day? Because that's roughly how much water we lose normally through breathing, perspiration, waste removal and other functions. Add sultry weather or enough exercise to break a sweat and the amount of water needed to stay healthily hydrated- not to mention avoid fatigue, light-headedness, nausea, even heat stroke- quickly climbs. Keep in mind the dry air from your heating system in the winter months- moisture is leaving your body. Your Liquid Assets: Water keeps your energy up, weight down, muscles strong, joints supple, and digestive system smooth- your whole system in physical balance. WATER regulates body temperature, makes up 83% of blood, removes waste, composes 75% of your brain, and helps carry nutrients and oxygen to cells. WATER moistens oxygen for breathing, helps convert food into energy, protects and cushions vital organs, helps body absorb nutrients, accounts for 22% of bones, cushions joints and makes up 75% of muscles. Can you understand why we can't live without water? Physicians have long recommended drinking lots of water to prevent some problems- kidney stones and constipation, for instance. When you have a cold /cough, doctors tell you to "force fluids". Got the munchies? You may want to pour yourself a glass of water to fight the urge. Sometimes we don't recognize the difference between thirst and hunger. And don't laugh- it might work. Got heartburn or a headache? Maybe a good dose of water will do the trick! More and more doctors, nutritionist, fitness fanatics, cancer researchers, weight control specialists, and patients agree that water has and can work magic. CAUTION: Toss the coffee/ soda beverages with caffeine and alcohol--they are diuretics- a term that means they draw extra fluids out of your body to produce more urine. For every cocktail, beer, or caffeinated beverage you consume- throw to the back of your throat a glass of water! Watch your consumption of too much sugar or diet sodas or juices- pure water is the best! STAY CLOSE to water; keep a filled-up water bottle within reach all day- refill it, and keep account of how many you drink. Drink at least four 16-ounce bottles a day! When you start drinking more water- yes, you will go to the bathroom more often, but the trips will taper-off as your body becomes accustomed to the increase! BLOATED TRUTH - water retention is a part of hormonal fluctuations and a common symptom of PMS. But drinking water won't make it worse. In fact, the opposite is true, says Dr. Susan Kleiner. "If the body perceives it isn't getting enough fluid, it will hold onto the fluid it has." Drinking water may not be rocket science, but drinking eight, eight-ounce glasses will be a challenge. GO FOR IT! You'll feel better!! Claudia Parks, RN is a former doctor's office and emergency room nurse and retired as an educator from Fulton County Schools. She writes Your Health Matters as a public service; the information here is designed to help you make informed choices about your health. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of your physician. Claudia and her husband now make their home in the beautiful north Georgia Mountains. Claudia can be reached at YHM@windstream.net |
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