Make 2019 a year to make your health a priority! A good way to start is to make sure you are drinking enough water. We lose water daily through sweating, breathing and digestion. If your cells are dehydrated, they won't function as well which will leave you with less energy, loss of mental focus, decreased immune system function and dull and wrinkled skin.
4 easy ways to know if you are hydrated.:
1. Feeling hungry- it is difficult to differentiate between hunger and thirst. If you feel hungry and it hasn't been long since your last meal, try drinking 8 0z of water first.
2. Feeling tired or cranky- mild dehydration can cause moodiness, fatigue and headaches.
3. Skin quality- skin cells that are not hydrated look rough and dry.
4. Frequency of urination- healthy adults empty their bladder 6-7 times per day. Another indicator is if your urine is dark in color or has a strong smell.
Your body is approximately 65% water which is needed for a number of physiological processes and biochemical reactions: blood circulation, metabolism, regulation of body temperature, waste removal and detoxification.
Chronic dehydration may lead to further problems such as:
*Asthma/allergies: when you are dehydrated your body wants to conserve water and can lead to restricted airways. Water also helps to keep blood vessels open.
*Bladder/kidney: when your body is dehydrated, the body accumulates waste and acids which can lead to clogging of the kidney. Kidney stones and urinary tract infections may also result from chronic mild-severe dehydration. Severe dehydration can lead to kidney damage.
*Digestion issues: a shortage of water and alkaline materials such as calcium and magnesium can lead to digestive problems such as gastritis or acid reflux.
*Constipation: when there is a lack of water, the colon is an area that the body draws water from in order to provide fluid to other critical body functions. Without proper hydration, waste can move slowly.
*High cholesterol: dehydration causes an increase in cholesterol production to help prevent water loss from cells.
Water protects your tissues, spinal cord and joints! Just think about how it feels when your eyes, nose or mouth get dry. Staying hydrated retains optimum levels of moisture to these sensitive areas as well as in the blood, bones and brain. Water helps protect the spinal cord and helps to act as a lubricant and cushion for your joints.
To get the maximum benefits of a hydrated spine is to make sure you get regular adjustments to maintain and improve movement through the spinal column. The discs that cushion between each spinal vertebrae operate like a pump, to pump in nutrients and pump out waste. If there is an area of fixation(subluxation) within the spine then the pump doesn't work so well and overtime will lead to a decay of the disc and joint.
I hope you find this information useful and further understand the importance of water!
Have a happy, healthy and hydrated year!