Got Water?

Health Corner with Trena Barishnikov

Did you know that almost two-thirds of the human body is made up of water? We lose an average of 2.8 quarts of water daily through respiration, perspiration or body excretions (skin, lungs, urine, and bowel). Water performs many functions throughout the body. It dilutes toxins and waste products. Water is crucial to cleansing the kidneys and dissolving minerals. It plays an important role in lubricating joints and regulating body temperature. Water is also helpful in preventing constipation.

Good rule of thumb is to drink half of your body weight in fluid ounces. So for simple math if you weigh 140 lbs., you would try to drink 70 ounces of water. Some ask whether they can drink colas, coffee, and juices instead of water. What people don’t realize sometimes is the fact that colas and fruit juices add sugar to the blood, disrupting blood sugar balance, but do not quench the thirst. They also often contain artificial sweeteners and ingredients that are not necessarily healthy to the whole body.

Colas and coffee are also known to rob the body of minerals. They may taste better than water but they are no match to water in providing hydration and other benefits to the body.

If you want your body to be properly hydrated, drinking an adequate amount of water is a must. If you do not like water, try to flavor it with lemon, lime, mint, or herbal teas.

Some alternative practitioners recommend warm lemon water in the morning to improve digestion. A typical recommendation is to squeeze ¼ or a wedge of lemon in warm water.

Sometimes water is even called “the fountain of youth” because if its rejuvenating qualities. But this topic is for the next discussion. But for now, remember to occasionally ask yourself a question: got water?

3 John 2 – “I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in good health, even as your soul prospers.”

The information provided is for educational use only and is not intended to diagnose and treat any health conditions.