"HYDRATING" our body . . . an easy solution!

So we spoke a few days ago about keeping the body "hydrated" to help relieve stress. Well today we're going to talk about how to accomplish that mission.

As I stated . . . the average body needs between a half an ounce to an ounce of water per your body weight, per day to maintain a "hydrated" body. But sometimes that's a difficult task to accomplish and there's actually a reason why. So how do we stay "Hydrated" without drowning ourselves?

Well . . . first, we need to know it's important for your body to have plenty of fluids each day. Water helps you digest your food, absorb nutrients from food, and then get rid of the unused waste. Water is found in foods - both solids and liquids, as well as in its natural state. Meaning there is also water in the fruits and vegetables we eat.

But unfortunately, "Hydration" is not as simple as just drinking a ton of water. It's possible to "still" be "dehydrated" after drinking your required amount of water per day.

When the body is "Dehydrated" (and most of us don't even know we are), it goes into a survival mode, meaning the body adjusts to not consuming enough water. "Dehydration" becomes the body's new normal.

So if you drink large quantities of water to solve this problem . . . the body can't absorb it correctly and you end up peeing it out. To "Rehydrate" the body you have to slowly introduce water back into your system.

Now "Dehydration" can have other causes other than just "not" drinking enough water. Such as: illness, profuse sweating, too much urine output, vomiting, diarrhea, diabetes and high blood sugar.

The kidneys play a major role in balancing our body pH (remember we spoke of pH balance and acidity in a previous Health Tip), and "Dehydration" drastically slows down this process. The water's "quality" matters in terms of how well our body can "Hydrate" itself from the water we drink.

So how can we tell "if" or "how" dehydrated we really are? Well . . . When you're staying "Hydrated", your urine will be a light yellow . . . close to clear color. But if you're getting "Dehydrated", you'll notice that your urine is becoming a "Deep Amber" or even a "Light Brown". This means it's time to step up your game and drink more water!

Okay . . . so now we know why we need water, but what kind is the best to "Hydrate" our body correctly?

Drinking water which is "less" acidic than tap water or regular bottled water can help the body stay better "Hydrated" and more disease free. We've spoken before about acidity and alkalinity and how important it is to keep the body's pH level balanced.

Well, when your body is "Dehydrated", it causes you to be more acidic and that can lead to a weakened immune system and disease. It can also be a major cause of poor digestion meaning lack of calcium and magnesium which can cause ulcers, gastritis and acid reflux because the stomach doesn't have enough H2O to produce digestive acid.

Drinking alkaline water, which is less acidic than tap water or bottled can offer more health benefits. It helps slow down the aging process, regulate pH levels of the body and prevent various chronic diseases.

So what is this Alkaline water? Well, it's nothing other than taking a very small amount of baking soda (1/4 of a teaspoon) and adding it in your regular 8 ounce glass of water.

BUT . . . caution should be taken!!!!!! This baking soda method is only a short term remedy. Do not do this for more than 2 or 3 days at a time. And this is the reason . . . if you alkalize the pH of stomach acid too long it can decrease the stomach's ability to help kill bacteria and expel other undesirable pathogens from entering your bloodstream. So please use with caution. The other element of caution is this . . . if you have chronic kidney disease or are taking a medication that affects your kidney function, this method could possibly have negative side effects on the kidneys. So please be aware!!!!

Okay . . . Another method of keeping "Hydrated" and probably the most important is "Electrolyte". Electrolyte water is infused with electrically-charged minerals, such as sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Electrolyte drinking water is specifically designed to improve "Hydration" and other bodily functions by having optimal concentrations of only beneficial electrolytes.

Electrolytes are important because they help balance the amount of water in your body. All while balancing your body's pH levels. These Electrolytes are essential minerals to optimal health.

Now . . . I'm sure you're thinking . . . I know about electrolytes . . . they're in sports drinks and energy drinks! Well, you would be correct, BUT these drinks are also LOADED with caffeine, stimulants, chemicals and sugar. This is NOT the avenue you want to take to correct your body.

So with that being said . . . we now know that Alkaline water (baking soda which corrects the body's pH balance) is good for short term consumption. And that Electrolyte water (essential minerals which correct the body's pH balance) is good for a long term consumption.

So here's a recipe for a Lemon-pomegranate electrolyte drink that doesn't have the caffeine, chemicals, stimulants or sugar.

This makes about 1 liter

1/4 teaspoon of ground Himalayan salt - without anti-caking agents in it...this is important!

1/4 cup All-Natural pomegranate juice NO sugar added

1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice

1 1/2 cups unsweetened coconut water

2 cups cold water

Directions ; Put all ingredients in a bowl and whisk, then pour into a container, chill and serve

As always SHARE this important information.

Tomorrow, we'll talk about what kind of Probiotics are best.

If you'd like more information, feel free to contact me here.