We are 60-95% what? – WATER
- The human body is more than 60% water.
- Blood is 92% water
- The brain and muscles are 75% water
- Bones are about 22% water
- A human can survive for a month or more without eating food, but only a week or so without drinking water.
Feeling tired?
It may be related to dehydration. Thirst is a late indicator for the onset of dehydration. Even a small loss in the body’s water levels can result in lowered awareness, headaches and fatigue. Ever decreasing water levels in the body turn into a sort of brain fog. Beyond that you will experience a quarter or more loss in energy!
Hunger pains or cries for water?
Thats right we all know what it is to be hungry, but your body may just be crying out for water. Our bodies produce waste, similar to a car burning gasoline and having exhaust, to get rid of the acidic waste produced by our bodies, water carries it away from our cells. When there is not enough water for this process to occur the body senses this acidic waste build up as pain. Headaches, feeling hungry, chronic joint pain even ulcers can be a result of dehydration. According to this recent study we are more sensitive to pain when dehydrated.
Water for weight loss?
Under-hydration can not only lead to inflammatory issues throughout the body but also lowered metabolism rates. Maybe you are feeling hungry but its not time for a meal just yet? Go grab a glass of water and drink it down, this should help you make it to that meal time without spoiling it.
You’re not sick, you’re thirsty!
It is estimated that more than 110 million people in America endure various pains in different degrees of intensity. These pains however are not normally associated with dehydration. Its safe to say that most understand the importance of water. If you go searching the internet it is next to impossible to find a consistent agreement on the percentage of the population that suffers dehydration, the medical community does not weigh in on the subject. The average consensus is about 75% of the American population could be suffering to one degree or another of dehydration, a serious problem and a major factor in the health of America.
Lets then factor in the consumption of caffeinated or alcoholic beverages consumed by the population not in addition to but in place of water. These beverages act as a diuretic and expel the body’s stores of water worsening the situation. We also should be getting about 20% of our daily water from food sources such as vegetables and fruits but often this goes by the wayside and is replaced buy junk foods which does little to restore the water needed.
Being chronically dehydrated changes your physiology and creates unhealthy complications that are often mistakenly labeled as diseases. At one point or another a person might visit his or her primary care physician or MD for these symptoms. This is where things can really go wrong. Far too often dehydration is overlooked and mis-diagnosed for another dis-ease. Furthermore medicines routinely and frequently prescribed can worsen dehydration. The following list is just an example of some of the symptoms commonly misdiagnosed:
- Allergies
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Autoimmune dysfunctions
- Cholesterol
- Chronic Pain
- Constipation
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Gout
- High Blood Pressure
- Headaches
- Heartburn and Dyspepsia
- Hiatal hernia
- Hot flashes
- Insomnia
- Kidney stones
- Lower back pain
- Osteoporosis
What’s in your water?
Tap water although regulated can be more dangerous than you imagine. Some studies in select cities have repeatedly turned up Lead, Pathogens, By-products of chlorine treatment which may cause cancer and reproductive problems, Arsenic and Radon. Chlorine and fluoride being the most abundant dangers in your tap water. Many pharmaceutical substances including psychotropic drugs have begun to be found in tiny concentrations within the drinking water of several US cities. [1]
Where should I get my water?
Distilled water can be consumed but is not recommended. Drinking distilled water for extended periods can be dangerous. Your body counts on receiving many vital minerals which distilled water does not contain.
Bottled water, when drinking bottled water be cautious. If your water is stored in a plastic bottle and left in the sun, a hot car or any other place to heat up chemicals used to make the plastic can leach into the water. Consider also the effect you have on the environment when disposing of the plastic bottle. Be sure to read the label and make sure no sugars have been added!
Filtered water is the preferred method. Pick a filter that will remove the most contaminants from your water, I find Brita and PUR filters to be sufficient and widely available. Next the ideal container to store your water in would be glass. If a glass container is not available or not ideal for the situation try stainless steel then lastly go for a BPA free plastic.
How much water should I drink?
There are a lot of rules and different complex calculations out there to quantify how much water you should consume daily. We want this to be simple and easy to remember therefore the following formula should be applied.
Body weight multiplied by .67 = (the number of ounces required) divide by 12 = the number of 12oz bottles of water you should be drinking.
For example; a person weighing in at 155 should be drinking at least 8.7 12oz bottles of water a day. (155 x .67 = 104 / 12 = 8.7)
This formula should serve as the minimum. Of course if your active or perspiring increase the amount of water accordingly (add 1 12oz bottle of water for each 1/2 hour you exercise). You can also supplement the intake of pure water with some of the vital minerals you lose such as salt, potassium, magnesium, etc. to aide in preventing dehydration. These products are of course available for purchase in our office.
Now for the challenge!
Do the math and figure out how much water you need minimally. For 1 week fill a jug in the morning with the days water and make sure you finish it every day for the week. After the week is over email me, let me know how your body feels, how your energy levels are doing, how restful your sleep has been and any other changes you notice. – Ryan@DrDusty . com – I will share the results of the challenge in my next post and let you know some of the other benefits experienced. For those of you who complete the challenge and report back to me I will send you a 15% off reply to use on supplements that support a dehydrated body like salt, potassium and trace minerals.
Drink Adequate Water… Your Health Depends On It!
Ryan Freeland
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