Happy Friday everyone and welcome to the start of a new weekend! I hope your July 4th was a safe and fun time celebrating our great country!
Tonight’s post will be about “Wonderful Water.” 19th Century writer Henry David Thoreau said that “Water is the only drink for a wise man.” (Coffee may be the exception? 🙂 ) All kidding aside, humans can go without food for thirty to forty days, but without water, life would end in three to five days. Quality water is the best frontline treatment for every physical disorder of any living organism. It is so important to consider where water comes from and its vital contributions to health. I have learned SO MUCH in preparing for this post!
The human body is composed of approximately 70 percent water, with content varying considerably from person to person and from one body part to another. The body’s water supply is responsible for and involved in nearly every physical process, including digestion, absorption, circulation and excretion.
A drop in the body’s water content is reflected as a decline in blood volume. The lowering of the water content in the blood triggers hypothalamus, the brain’s thirst center, to send out the need for water. Some interesting facts: This causes a slight rise in the concentration of sodium in the blood, which quickly triggers a sensation of thirst. People often consume only enough liquid to quench a dry or parched throat but not enough to cover normal water loss. Adults can become dehydrated quickly, as the percentage of water the body reserves drops with age. As we age, our sense of thirst dulls.
It is beneficial to always drink more water than the body craves or needs. You should try to make it a habit to drink water even when you are not feeling thirsty. It is, in fact, vital to health to drink eight or more glasses of quality water each and every day. If this is not a habit for you now, build up slowly. Drink two glasses a day, and increase your intake to help you get up to the habit of eight daily!!
Drinking enough water could probably eliminate many bowel and bladder problems and even the common headache. Toxins builds up in the system, which can cause headaches if not enough water is consumed to flush them out. The bladder also functions better with plenty of water. Drinking a full glass of water has been known to relieve anxiety attacks, heartburn, acid stomach, muscle pain, hot flashes, etc. Flushing the body’s systems with quality can help maintain, heal, rejuvenate, and rehabilitate!
Another interesting read is that chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), which is on the rise in this country, is just one of the disorders that is believed to be helped by drinking at least eight glasses of water daily. Toxins and chemicals that cause symptoms of muscle aches, headaches, and extreme fatigue, which are very common complaints, can be flushed out by water. Without water, these metabolic waste products and toxins would poison the body.
Excess body fat, poor muscle tone, digestive problems, organ malfunction, joint and muscle soreness, and water retention all may be related to not taking in enough fluids. In fact, in many cases, the way to eliminate fluid retention is to drink more water, as it is a natural diuretic. Proper water intake assists weight loss. If not enough water is consumed, the body cannot metabolize fat, which leads to water retention and weight gain.
There are even more benefits from hydrating the body with water. Consuming water can slow down the aging process. Arthritis, kidney stones, constipation and many other ailments can be prevented and/or improved by consuming quality water. Drinking eight to ten glasses of water daily can make a noticeable difference in a person’s health and quality of life!
****Helpful hint: Grapefruit seed extract is ideal as a safe and simple way to disinfect drinking water when camping, backpacking, traveling to foreign countries or in any emergency situation where safe drinking water is not obtainable and boiling is not possible. Available water should first be filtered (at the least, let suspended water particles settle.) Retain the clear water and add 10 drops of grapefruit seed extract per gallon of water. Shake or stir vigorously and let it sit for a few minutes. You may notice a slightly bitter taste, but this is just the inherent taste of the grapefruit seed extract. It is not harmful. Safe and easy to carry with you, grapefruit seed extract is actually a first-aid remedy with many uses as well!!
INFUSED WATER RECIPES. (I love infused waters, and I especially love mixing one and taking it to work and having it midmorning as I am on my feet and on the go all day.) Personal tip: Amazon is my favorite place to get dried flowers. Here are some favorite blends:
Lemon and Thyme (great for digestion and lemon is very good for the kidneys)
Cucumber, Lime, Strawberry and Mint Leaves
Orange, Star Anise, and Hibiscus (hibiscus is one of my favorite flowers to use in infused water. Tart and refreshing! Combined with orange, this one is a great energy pick me up.)
Watermelon, Honeydew, and Mint
Lime, Ginger Root, and Basil
Cucumber, Mint, and Jalapeno
Lemon, Raspberry, Rosemary
Orange, Blueberry, Basil
Tips: Gather loose herbs and flowers in a tea infuser. Crush ginger and leafy herbs to release flavors and cube fruit!
Have a great start to your weekend!
“EVERY ACCOMPLISHMENT STARTS WITH THE DECISION TO TRY.”
Lemon and Rosemary 