Water & Your Body

Birmingham Holistic Health Centre Counselling, Acupuncture, Homeopathy in Birmingham May 29, 2014

Optimal water intake is essential to refresh your vitality and health, without adequate water your body will be operating under unnecessary stress.

Water is required for every process within the body, the vital functions include:

dissolving nutrients so they can be absorbed more easily into your digestive tract
Many metabolic processes need to take place in water
Water is a component of blood and is essential for transporting chemicals and nutrients to cells and tissues
Glucose, the only energy source the brain can use, needs water to be transported into the brain
All cells of the body are constantly bathed in a watery fluid
Water carries waste materials from your cells to your kidneys so they can be filtered out and eliminated from the body
Water enables the transport of heat produced by metabolic processes and muscular activity; heat is transferred to water which is carried by the blood to the skin and released as perspiration enabling the maintenance of the right temperature balance

Signs of being dehydrated include itchy skin, dry skin, low energy, dry sticky mouth, thirst, low urine output, dizziness, light headedness, constipation, few tears when crying, low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat and rapid breathing

The body requires approx. 2 litres of water a day, more if you are active, additional to that provided from within foods you eat

Your body is a closed system, only able to acquire water from that you drink and from within the foods you eat.

Water is acquired through foods (fruit and vegetables), water, herbal teas, and fruit juices which are diluted with 50% water.

Most people who do not drink water find it boring as the body’s thirst mechanism, which has been ignored, is switched off.

The body reactivates the thirst mechanism, normally between 3 and 6 weeks, if water is regularly consumed. When the thirst mechanism is reactivated, most people enjoy water once more.

To reactivate the thirst mechanism:

Introduce a glass of water (250ml) as the first drink of the day, another at midday approximately ½ hours before eating, and as the last drink of the day. Continue this for one week.

Week 2: introduce a glass of water mid- morning and mid-afternoon.

Week 3: introduce 2 more glasses of water during the day and evening.

Week 4: introduce 1 or 2 more glasses of water when appropriate for your day

The body only utilises water it can rely on receiving. It is important to maintain the increase in consumption as otherwise the body will assume the amount received on a low consumption day is the norm.

It is a good idea to have a glass of water alongside coffee drunk after 11am and alongside alcohol.

Analogy: imagine your body is a canal system and to stop sediment sinking and sticking to the body’s digestive tract it is necessary to have a good flow of water.

Increasing your water intake to the optimal amount may increase energy and mental capacity and may help with dis-eases of inflammation, digestion, and immunity. Optimal water intake may also plump up the skin so helping to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

Drinking too much water may rob the body of water-soluble nutrients and also cause the kidneys to be overworked

Your Bodies Many Cries for Water is an excellent book on the health benefits of water

Sarah Bennet Nutritional therapist ION Dip

http://www.birminghamholistic.co.uk/nutritional-therapy/