Monday – Hydration

Why does hydration matter? How much water to you need in a day? What does dehydration do to your body? This week we will cover these topics and more!

• Energy: Dehydration can lower the amount of enzymes you produce which decreases you metabolism and leads to fatigue.
• Digestion:  Your body creates digestive juices to help you break down food. Dehydration makes it difficult for your body to break down food and absorb nutrients. Also, drinking a large amount of water before you eat also impacts digestion as it dilutes the enzymes which break down food causing indigestion and bloating.
• Regularity: When your body is dehydrated and food is not properly digested, your colon tries to take on fluid from the food and transfer it to the blood stream. This causes hard stool that is difficult to pass which can lead to toxicity and inflammation in the body.
• Aging: Our cellular make up declines with age and less water is available to our bodies. Dehydration can cause an accelerated decline and an improper fluid balance in the body.

Tuesday - Hydration Continued

• Stomach Health: The stomach creates a thick mucus lining made up of 98% water to protect itself from acidic foods. If the body is dehydrated, ulcers can occur in the stomach lining causing break downs over time.
• Respiration: Like the stomach, the lungs also have mucus lining made up mostly of water. When this lining lacks water, it dries out which causes possible attacks from particles in the air.
• Acid: When you’re not drinking enough water, your body is unable to eliminate acids from the body. This causes acidification in the cellular environment and the skin and kidneys are not able to do their job which causes inflammation, fungus, and yeast infections.
• Weight Management:  If you feel hungry, it may mean you are thirsty. Mistaking thirst for hunger can cause you to overeat. That lack of energy you may feel from being dehydrated may make you want sugar to help gain energy as well. 

Wednesday - Hydration Continued

• Skin Health: Over time, skin loses its elasticity and becomes dry and flakey. Dehydration speeds this aging process and can also lead to skin irritations and rashes such as eczema. The skin helps remove toxins from our bodies but without water, we lose the ability to sweat these toxins out.
• Cholesterol: When dehydrated, the body increases cholesterol production to protect the cells membranes from permeability and stop water loss. This overproduction can cause blockages in the blood stream and veins. 
• Kidney and Urinary Health: When we don’t drink enough water, our kidneys are not able to flush toxins from our systems. High concentrations of toxins in our urine can cause potential infections in the urinary track.
• Joint Pain: With dehydration, cartilage and ligaments become brittle and prone to damage. When toxins aren’t removed from the body, they attach to the joints causing inflammation and arthritis. 

Thursday - 6 Tips to Stay Hydrated

• Start each day off with a glass of water. Having water first thing in the morning helps replenish fluids that are lost overnight and helps you start your day off in the right direction!
• Eat your fruits and veggies! These foods are high in water and minerals.
• Establish regular water breaks.
• Substitute fruit juice and soda for sparkling water and low sodium vegetable juices.
• Use a water filtration system at home or a pitcher filter instead of bottled water. This helps your body and the environment!
• Cook with high quality sea salt. Sodium causes water retention and has little to no mineral value. 

Friday - Free Speech Friday

With rising temperature, it is important to stay hydrated. What are some tips you have to stay hydrated? Have you ever noticed when you body functions were reduced due to dehydration? Please share your stories with your coworkers and help others to remember to drink their water regular.