The Best Things In Life Can Be Free

by Dr. Brett L. Lukert, DC

Very rarely are the best things in life free. Just about everything of value has a price, which is why it is so nice when we find exceptions to this rule. One perfect, "refreshing" example of this is water. Water is one of our most valuable resources. Next to the air we breathe, there is no other element that we are more dependent on for survival than water. We can live for weeks without food, but we will not last more than a few days without water.

Water is a nourishing, cleansing agent that is necessary for regulating body temperature, transporting nutrients and oxygen to our cells, removing waste, and protecting and lubricating our joints. Water also reduces the risk for kidney stones, sunstroke, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Our bodies are 60-70 percent water, which is the major component of our blood, muscles and organs. It is estimated that 70 percent of our population is clinically dehydrated. Signs of dehydration include lethargy, muscle aches and tightness, headaches, joint pain, constipation, and of course, thirst.

In most cases, we need to drink more than the traditional "eight 8-ounce glasses" a day that we have always been told. Here are a few health tips to consider when it comes to water:

•  The International Sports Medicine Institute recommends drinking ½ ounce of water per pound of body weight if you're not actively exercising. For example, a 150-pound person should drink 75 ounces of water per day. These needs will be higher during exercise, pregnancy, and when breast feeding.
•  During long bouts of exercise (60 minutes or longer), sports drinks containing sodium (i.e. Gatorade) are good to help replace the sodium lost during perspiration. This helps prevent hyponatremia, which can be a life-threatening condition.
•  Order water instead of pop when going out to eat. Water is healthier and cheaper. Pop, coffee and alcoholic beverages may contain water but are diuretics, meaning they actually cause dehydration by not only eliminating the water contained in them but also causing us to lose further amounts of water in our body's reserves.
•  Water promotes weight loss by metabolizing fat and suppressing our appetite. There are no calories in water, and it helps promote healthy, lean muscle tone.

Drinking enough water is truly one of the best ways to be healthy, live, healthy and stay healthy!