By Brooke Rodgers – Holistic Health Coach
“Water is the only drink for a wise man.” – Henry David Thoreau
Those of us who drink water on a daily basis are typically in tune with the fact that we need water to survive, that if we don’t drink the proper amount of water each day we can become dehydrated which has a variety of unfriendly symptoms one can become increasingly concerned with. Symptoms like fatigue, hunger, sugar cravings, and headaches are just a few examples. The human body is 75% water and our brains are comprised of about 85% water. What does this mean for you? What if the water you drank promoted healing and satisfaction to your body without the need for prescription pills? What if drinking proper amounts of water substituted medications and prescription drugs you took for a variety of ailments from migraines to rheuomatoid joint pain? We are told to drink around 8 cups of water a day. This is not the same for everyone “across the board.” But, in actuality, we should be drinking half of our body weight in ounces (taking into consideration age, diet, physical activity, climate/environment, and health concerns). I weigh around 128 lbs. which means I should drink close to 64 ounces. In this article I will explain how drinking adequate amounts of water a day can provide amazing health benefits to your body including losing weight, reducing sugar cravings, reverse illness, preventing asthma attacks, and even curing migraines.
Losing Weight
We cannot starve our cells from water. Our cells need water to deliver key nutrients and minerals to key organs and other physical functions. When our cells our starved of water, ugly reactions or symptoms begin to occur. We need to listen to these symptoms. Drinking fresh, clean water daily (spring, water ionizers or filtered) can help flush the body of toxins, speed up metabolism, reduce cholesterol, helps the body burn stored fat, helps build muscle, and can even suppress the appetite! This leads me to my next health benefit…
Reducing Sugar Cravings
There are moments where I may be craving sweets like chocolate or candy. When I have these feelings or thoughts, I will drink a glass of 8 ounce spring water, and wait 10-15 minutes. Just like magic—the craving I had is no longer present! Our bodies tend to send interesting signals to our brains especially when we are dehydrated or need to drink water—this connects in with sugar cravings. Drinking water can help the body feel full and reduce cravings naturally! Try squeezing fresh lemon juice in your water for a fresh, invigorating taste and feel the sense of empowerment that you just “beat your craving!” Next time you’re craving something sugary, have some sweet vegetables and drink a tall glass of “agua fria” (cold water ;))
Reverse Illness
Drinking purified and/or spring water (my favorite) has been linked to relieve, help prevent and even cure joint pain, high blood cholesterol/pressure, back pain, arthritis, and diabetes, and colitis. For more information, please check out information here: Watercure.com.
Preventing Asthma Attacks
Even though environmental issues and allergens can trigger asthma attacks and symptoms in people, it is also noted that “Asthma” is a condition due to the “complication” of dehydration inside of the body. Asthma can be a life threatening condition not only in adults, but especially, in children. Make sure to add sea salt or “Himalayan salt” to your water upon drinking because it is said that salt can help “open up” the mucus membranes and/or plugs in the lung cavity. Check out more information here: http://www.communityconnexion.com/article/07-01/asthma.html
Preventing Migraines
Since the human brain is comprised of around 85% of water, well, we better keep that baby hydrated so it doesn’t throb and send one of the most uncomfortable and debilitating of signals—an eye watering, pressure enduring, migraine! According to Dr. F. Batmanghelidj from, “Your Body’s Many Cries For Water,” he states, “Migraines are a sign that your peripheral vessels are excessively dilated, due to factors like heat stress, hangovers, allergic or dietary triggers, all of which are made worse by dehydration. Drinking sufficient water promotes the closing of your vascular system throughout your body, alleviating your pain and preventing future attacks.”
“Water is the mother of the vine, the nurse and fountain of fecundity, the adorner and refresher of the world.”~The Dionysia
The next time our body sends us a signal that we are fatigued, have a headache or sugar craving, or even a stomach pain, take the time and drink an 8-12 ounce glass of clean water. Do not rely on prescription pills, pain killers, or any other stimulants and ignore these symptoms. This would be doing an injustice to the body along with abusing it. Give the body what it needs. Our bodies don’t make mistakes. I think we oftentimes mistake symptoms for being something bigger than they are and we tend to mask them and cover them up without getting to the source of the problem. You don’t need ibuprofen for that headache, just water! You don’t need joint pain medication, you just need more water! If any of these adverse reactions occur as that natural response to “dehydration,” drink a glass of water, or even a few, and see its natural response and the effect it has on you.
www.perceptivewellness.com