Water Can Change Everything…
Water is fundamental for every aspect of our health. Our bodies are made up of at least 60% water. It is the primary component of of all our bodily fluids; blood, lymph, digestive juices, urine, tears and sweat. Simply, we cannot work without it, just as a car cannot run without gas and oil. Water removes harmful toxins from the body through urination and perspiration. It also helps reduce constipation and helps with bowel movements, ensuring wastes are removed quickly, before becoming toxic in the body. Water helps lubricate and cushion our joints and bones, and helps absorb shock to our organs. It helps regulate our body temperature. Our blood is about 80% water and it carries nutrients and oxygen throughout the body. Water improves the body’s natural healing process and is essential for all life.
The average person needs about 3 litres of water a day. This can change depending on climate, diet, and activity level. Some comes from the food we eat and the breakdown of foods, the rest we need to drink! Try to limit water intake with meals as it dilutes digestive juices, impairing food digestion and assimilation of nutrients. Jumpstart your water requirements for the day by drinking 16 ounces of water when you get up. Don’t count coffee or alcohol as part of your fluid intake, as they have a mild diuretic effect, promoting water loss via urination.
WHAT ABOUT TAP WATER?
Tap water contains many toxic chemicals (cadmium, chlorine and fluoride) as well as prescription drugs, pesticides, plastics, asbestos, dioxins, and PCB’s. What are these chemicals doing to us after years or decades of ingesting them? My dog Wendel, taught me a little something about water. Almost 2 decades ago after attending a water seminar, I brought home some reverse osmosis water. He got used to drinking it too, and months later we went for a long walk in the park on a hot summer day. He was very thirsty so I offered him some water from a drinking fountain. He smelled it and turned away. He wouldn’t drink it. I tried again, and he turned his head away. As soon as we got home, he just about drained his water bowl. Whenever we would go to someone’s house he’d refuse water if it was from the tap. I never drank tap water again.
The Environmental Working Group has a list of recommended water filters that vary in price range and effectiveness. http://www.ewg.org/research/