HEALTHY LIFESTYLE · JULY 2018
T
he funny thing about water and our consumption of it is we don’t realize we need it until our
throats are so parched we’re desperate to drink anything to quench our thirst. You see, our
minds are filled with so much clutter from our day-to-day lives that drinking the recommended
daily servings of water doesn’t even register with us. We’ve got what believe are more
important things on our minds like sports, taxes, bills, unpredictable weather patterns, and a
plethora of other nonessential items to scroll through. Who has time to think about water?
But here’s the thing. Our bodies need water. We’re not
talking a small sip you might take from a fountain. We
mean our bodies NEED water. It’s about survival. Our
body, as opposed to our mind, knows it needs water
to function properly. It craves it like we might crave
chocolate or ice cream, but in its case, that craving is vital
to our existence. Most of us can live without a chocolate
sundae, I hope.
Our bodies need far more water than we consume and
much more than we might think. How could it not?
Almost all life functions rely on it, which explains why
about 65% of the human body is composed of this
delicious, natural nectar. Water is as essential to life as
the air we breathe. It’s utterly ridiculous to think anything
different. It is the key component to having a body that
functions as it should.
Now, when I say most of our bodily systems rely on
water, I don’t mean a measly glass of it every now and
then. In case you missed the message, water is a constant
necessity. A continuous stream of it is essential to living
a healthy life. Many people hear (read) this and nod their
heads, signaling they understand how vital it is to our
existence, but truth be told, none of us really appreciate
its importance without a little education. The best way to
educate a population is to be thorough, to explain down
to the minute details why they should increase their water
consumption to allow their bodies to do the jobs they
were designed to do. With that being said, let me start a
proper explanation that everyone can understand.
First and foremost, water is critical for the distribution
of nutritional elements throughout our bodies and the
maintenance of a healthy colon, the organ that rids the
body of harmful toxins. In addition, the human body relies
on water to purify the blood, improve circulation and
reduce the risks of high blood pressure and cholesterol,
stagnating diabetes. Water also helps the body remove
toxins at the cellular level, alleviate stress on the liver
and kidneys, recover from illnesses and reduce the risk
of cancer. And for those moving up in age, water should
be your best friend, because it lubricates joints, which
aids in flexibility and reduces the symptoms of arthritis.
It also helps prevent premature aging, reduces the risk of
Alzheimer’s and helps maintain memory.
Another important function is the prevention of
dehydration. Feeling thirsty is one thing but being
dehydrated is another. Dehydration is beyond
feeling thirsty. In fact, feeling thirsty is a sign
that your body has already entered the early
stages of dehydration. In such a state,
the human body is not able to function
properly, and the symptoms can be quite
glaring. Some indicators especially if they
are not isolated, are excessive thirst,
fatigue, headache, dry mouth, little or
no urination, muscle weakness and
dizziness or lightheadedness. Lethargy,
unconsciousness, sunken eyes, and/or
the inability to drink properly are signs of
severe dehydration and treatment should be
sought immediately.
14 HEALTHY MAGAZINE