Drink Your Water!

Purely You Healing

Drink Your Water!

6:41

 

It's no secret that our bodies need water to survive. We know that the average person could only survive for 3 days without water. That is 72 hours. We can make it about 3 weeks without food, proving that water needs to be a priority in our survival. Now, you're probably not sitting on a deserted island wondering if you'll survive until you're rescued, but I'd bet you've reached for a snack instead of a drink of water on multiple occasions. Our brains and bodies are funny that way. We tend to ignore the "thirsty signals" but almost always listen to the "hungry ones" and sometimes, if we are not mindful we end up eating when we should be grabbing some water! There are some foods with naturally occurring water in them, like pineapple, celery, and lettuce but that is no match for a good glass of water. 

Your body is roughly 65% water, every single cell inside of you needs water to function. Did you know that being well hydrated can help with your temperature control, muscle aches, brain fog, dry eyes, digestion/elimination, clearer skin, etc, etc, etc. Being dehydrated leads to more fatigue, illness, and increased pain. 

Most of us know these things, but we still have a hard time drinking water. Maybe you don't like the taste, or it's "too hard" to drink water all day long. Here's the reality. If you have spent a majority of the last year drinking something other than water-pop, tea, juices, coffee- you have trained your brain to crave those things instead of water when you are thirsty. Sugar is one of the most additive substances on our planet and it is usually in our non-water drinks. In the cases of "diet" drinks, the sugar substitute gives the brain the same type of "high" so it still craves the sweetener instead of high quality water. If it's not a sweetener and you're drinking your tea or coffee black, then it is the caffeine your brain is looking for. A reward for consuming something other than water. This makes the initial shift VERY hard. It is like breaking any other habit, we have to retrain ourselves and our brains to consume something that serves our body in a better way. 

The best way to do this is to start slow. I will be honest, I used to struggle to get even 32 ounces of water in in a day. I was drinking pop, juice, and hot teas. I was always tired, cold and my body ached all the time. When I finally decided to make a change I started with just one full glass of water when I woke up then continued my day as usual. 12 ounces with my morning vitamins. The first few days that felt like SO MUCH WATER to consume all at once, but I eventually adjusted. I've been doing that for a couple of years now and some mornings I drink 2 or 3 glasses while I'm getting ready. Crazy right?!

The next step is to carry water with you. Find a cup or water bottle that you like (BPA free please!) and fill it before you leave the house, then carry it with you everywhere you go. Experiment with this. Some people will find they drink more water if they drink out of a straw instead of a sipping cup. Others will notice that if they have to unscrew the lid, they will drink less. We are creatures of convenience and if you can grab your cup and drink with one hand, you're more likely to drink more than when you need both hands to open it. I know it sounds ridiculous, but it makes a difference! Make your goal at least one of your bottle's every day. After you get good at that, graduate to two a day and so forth. Ideally, we should be taking in AT LEAST half our body weight in ounces a day. So if you weight 150 pounds, that means you need 75 ounces of water a day. We used to be taught that 8, 8 ounce glasses were enough but science suggests that is not enough, at least not for every person. If you have a 20 ounce bottle, then you need at least 4 of those in one day. 

If your complaint is flavor, you have options! You can add sliced fruit or vegetables to your water. A lemon slice is common, but water infused with strawberries or pineapple is delicious too. Cucumber water is a favorite for a lot of people as well. There are a million combinations out there and you have all sorts of options. If this sounds like something you're interested in trying this fruit infuser bottle, it even has time markers on it to help keep you on track! You can also try drinking Hint Waters. They are Whole30 approved, which means they have zero sweeteners or sugars in them. There are A LOT of different flavors, sparkling waters if you like fizz, and even some caffeinated waters for a little pick me up. Living in the Midwest, I'm just starting to see these available by the case in retail stores, however you can also order them straight from the company. You can even put them on a subscription so you never run out. If you want to check them out, use this link for $10 off your first order.

Occasionally I will hear that water is giving someone heartburn. Usually this has to do with either the mineral content of the water or the pH level being too acidic. I find that the most often I hear this complaint is with bottled water from the store. If you're house water isn't good quality and you MUST drink bottled water, I encourage you to try different brands and see if your heart burn is eased. I will always encourage refillable water bottles so if it is possible that you can buy a water filter that eases your hesitations. Or if you have the space an at home water dispenser. 

How does your life change when you finally start getting enough water every day? Body aches and pains ease, digestion improves, cravings are curbed, headaches become less frequent, skin clears, fatigue lessens, your immune system functions better, brain fog eases, body temperature regulates, and so so much more! 

Give it a whirl and watch how much better you feel!

May nothing less than love and light enter your space!