Thirsty Tuesday

THIRSTY!  THIRSTY!  LOVE THAT WATER!!!!  GRAB A GLASS NOW!

A few years ago I found myself in the ER suffering from dehydration.  Now I didn't know it was that when I went in... all I knew was that I felt AWFUL!!!!  Two bags of fluid were administered to me via IV, and I have to tell you, when I left I felt like I could conquer the world.  It made that much of a difference in only a matter of hours... amazing!

So while this post won't be any earth-shaking news to you, I just thought it was a good time to remind you to DRINK WATER - LOTS AND LOTS!  There are countless reasons why it's good for you - just Google "Why Drink Water?" and see.  It's great for your skin (your biggest organ), your connective tissue, your organs... it hydrates from the inside out and energizes!!!



My current rule of thumb for myself  is to take my weight, divide it by two, and then drink that many fluid ounces of water per day.  That's IN ADDITION to any other liquids I drink, like tea, etc.  

Now I happen to like water, and I like it room temperature.  Perhaps you have to choke yours down... if so, just toss in some cucumber slices, or lemon or lime or orange slices, or some fresh strawberries.  I'm not an advocate of flavoring your water with artificial sweeteners or chemicals or colorings, so I don't use any of those things.  I prefer either straight up, or with some citrus or cukes (or both). I'll even put in some herbs - mint, cilantro, basil.  I sip throughout the day and usually don't chug-a-lug unless I'm working out and sweating my brains out (which always feels terrific)!!!


Exercise your gulp, gals -- get out there today and up your H2O intake!!!  You'll be glad you did - and it will give you a built in exercise plan (yes, that's what I mean, more trips to the loo)!!!

Blessings,

Coach Linda Bush  

Thirsty Tuesday

Water is the most wonderful elixir you can put into your body as far as I’m concerned. Water lubricates the salivary juices so that we can swallow. It transports nutrients through the body and lubricates around tissues to absorb shock, especially protecting the brain, eyes and spinal cord. Water also regulates body temperature by storing heat in the body and using evaporation of sweat for cooling. Without it, a person dehydrates. Signs of dehydration include dry mouth, warm skin, sleepiness, cramps, headaches and dizziness. Severe dehydration can cause fainting, heart failure, convulsions and even death! Roughly 70 percent of an adult’s body is made up of water, and at birth an infant’s body is approximately 80% water. Drinking too much water too quickly (usually during periods of intense athletic performance) can cause water intoxication, but a healthy person can drink about three gallons (48 cups) of water a day.

Now while I’m not advocating 48 cups of water a day (would people hear my body slosh, slosh, slosh as I ran past them to the bathroom every five minutes?), what I am saying is that drinking enough water can do amazingly good things for your body. It will flush out toxins, help you eliminate easier, keep you from getting excessively dry skin, stimulate the immune system, and lower incidences of urinary tract infections. Drinking a good amount of water could lower your risks of a heart attack. A six-year study published in the May 1, 2002 American Journal of Epidemiology found that those who drink more than 5 glasses of water a day were 41% less likely to die from a heart attack during the study period than those who drank less than two glasses.

So exercise your thirst quencher muscles, ladies, and drink your water! It's the closest thing we have to the fountain of youth!


1. “The Importance of Water and Human Health,” Water Education, FreeDrinkingWater.com. http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water-education/water-health.htm.