Written by: Kira Greasley, Certified Holistic Nutritional Consultant
With the warmer weather around the corner, I thought it would be important to revisit one of the principal components of all bodily fluid and function, WATER. The human body is composed of approximately 70% water and most people only consume 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 the body reserves drops with age, and as we age, our sense of thirst dulls.
Did you know, by the time your body is letting you know you need water, you are already dehydrated. Some signs you are dehydrated include sluggishness, fatigue, headache, loss of appetite, feeling excessively hot, light headedness, and nausea. Filtered water is the
best way to hydrate but get creative! Add some lemon or cucumber to help with the body’s detoxification process. Go one step further and add a granule or 2 of pink Himalayan Sea salt and you have an easy electrolyte drink! Adding some berries is a great way to add natural flavour and to receive your natural sugars to help assist with those glycogen (sugar) stores.
You should try to make it a habit to drink filtered water even when you are not feeling thirsty. On average we need about 12 cups, almost 3 litres of filtered water each day to stay hydrated as we lose water daily through our skin, urine, bowels, and lungs. But keep in mind, we can obtain some of our water requirements through the food we eat such as celery, cucumber, and watermelon to name a few, as well as the water that is released when our food digests. Additionally, proper water intake assists weight loss because if not enough water is consumed, the body cannot metabolize fat, which leads to water retention and weight gain.
Find water boring? Here are some water infusion ideas to help you jazz things up.
• Strawberry and Basil (Basil can assist with pain relief, immune booster, blood vessel health and antioxidant)
• Cucumber and Mint (Mint is a digestive aid, headache relief and nausea relief)
• Lemon and Rosemary (Rosemary stimulates the appetite, aids digestion and circulation, can assist with nasal and chest congestion as well as chronic circulatory problems)
• Orange and Ginger
• Blackberry and Lime
• Citrus and Cilantro (Cilantro helps to relieve indigestion, gas and diarrhea) • Grapefruit and Thyme (Thyme can help clear mucus from the lungs)
• Pineapple and Sage (Sage can help clear mucus from the lungs)
• Kiwi and Strawberry
• Watermelon and Mint
• Raspberry and Lime
• Honeydew Melon and Mint/Ginger and Pear
The benefits of drinking enough quality water are endless, in fact, it is vital to your health. Without water, life would end in 3-5 days, so bottoms up!
Kira Greasley is AST's Holistic Nutritional Consultant. Kira’s passion is helping you achieve your health goals and maximize your health potential through personalized nutritional guidance based on your unique needs and objectives. Kira is dedicated to promoting, inspiring and educating her clients, at any age and stage of their life to thrive. Call (403)278-1405 to book a consult.
