Yeah, yeah, you’ve heard it a million times- Drinking water is vital for your health. But… why? Are there better times and better ways to drink water? Andrea Trank, FYZICAL’s Certified Health Coach and Yoga Instructor, strengthens the case with 3 reasons you should be drinking more pure water (even if you are thinking you are drinking enough).
You are what you drink
70% of your body is composed of water, and that percentage actually diminishes as we age! In fact, your brain is actually 50% water. Sometimes when you are not thinking clearly or have a headache, you are simply dehydrated!
Age Gracefully
Cellular hydration- the ability of cell membranes to hold water within a cell- is one of the keys to staying youthful. Your skin reflects your health at the cellular level.
Helps balance your weight
No, really! Many times when you think you are hungry you are actually thirsty, so try drinking some water before reaching for a snack. In fact, drinking a glass of water (room temperature or warmer) can help you digest your food. Andrea Nakayama, a renowned Functional Nutritionist, says consuming water before meals “stimulates the gastrointestinal tract and peristalsis, the involuntary contraction and relaxation of muscles that moves food through the GI tract. Some research shows that drinking water boosts metabolism for up to an hour after being consumed.“
Let me add another layer to the picture. Start your morning off with a cup of warm water with lemon juice (warm water put less stress on your digestive system) to see these benefits:
Immune system boost
Lemons are a reliable source of Vitamin C, and are immune boosting containing both anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties
Love on your Liver
Drinking lemon water before your cup of coffee or tea will help support your liver which is most active at night and your lymphatic system helping to detoxify your body.
See more C
Lemons have potassium in it which help you absorb your Vitamin C which is good for your skin and for healthy weight control
Smooth move
Lemon water will help you go to the bathroom. It is much safer than taking laxatives.
Here is a simple recipe you might try—
12 ounces of warm water
Put some ½ piece of Ginger
½ to 1 whole lemon squeezes
One last caveat on water consumption. Pure water does matter. If you can avoid drinking bottled water out of those thin plastic bottles, you are better off because somewhere along the production line those bottles may have been left in the heat and that compromises the safety of your water. Testing your water quality can tell you a great deal about the safety of your water. If you want more information or help in figuring this out, Andrea can help you.
She is offering a 30-minute free telephone or in-person consultation for FYZICAL patients! During that consultation, she will review eating habits, stress level, an level and type of physical activity. She is a great resource for functional nutrition and physical wellness!
To reach Andrea Trank, you can contact at FYZICAL Metro 239-561-5616 or by emailing her at atrank@fyzicalswfl.com