Well, that's an odd thing to say.
Hear me out. Adult humans are made up of 60% water on average and it varies by body part. The skin is about 64% water, and our bones are made up of about 31% water. Our lungs come in at a staggering 83%! While our liver, heart, and pancreas hover in the low 70's.*
Here is a list of the incredible things water offers our bodies.
It is a vital nutrient to the life of every cell in our body.
It regulates our internal body temperature. We sweat to cool off.
It acts as the transport mechanism in the blood stream for nutrients that our bodies need.
It assists in flushing waste. Think pee and sweat.
It acts as a shock absorber for the brain, spinal cord, and a baby in utero.
It makes up most of our saliva.
It lubricates joints and can limit or rid the muscles of cramps. All those pops, cracks and aches may be related to dehydration.
One question I ask my achy clients is how much water they are drinking. When you've got aches and pains in the body and the muscles are made up of 79% water, well, that's kind of a big deal if you don't have the proper lubrication in them.
Our brain comes in at 73% water so if you're slacking on your water intake, imagine how your head can feel.
Suffice it to say, water plays an important role in our health. So, water isn't simply recommended, it's a requirement for a fully functioning body. How much should I drink?
This is a common question I get asked from my clients, and while it certainly depends on the person, a good rule of thumb is half your weight in ounces. Meaning, a person weighing in at 160 pounds should be drinking 80 ounces of water. I know, that seems like a LOT of water. But think of how much water your body uses and needs to function well. A lot, right? Well, it doesn't just produce water, you need to fill it with water. Not coffee. Not tea. Not juice. Certainly not soda. Water.
But how to get that much in without having to pee every 10 minutes?
Gradually.
Don't start by drinking your goal. Just like a marathon, you work your way up to it. If you've never ran further than from the car to the bathroom, I wouldn't expect you to run 26.2 miles tomorrow. But you could start by walking 3, right? Same with your water.
Add 8 ounces of water to the amount you normally drink. No matter where that's at. Only drink 4 a day now? Drink 12 tomorrow. Drink 24 now? Drink 30 tomorrow. Start small. Add 8 ounces for seven days. Once your body is comfortable, add another 4-8 ounces for another seven days. Keep building until you hit your goal. The need to pee will lessen when your body knows what to do with all that water. It can't use it all at once, so don't try to fill it up right away. You'll end up annoyed and then you'll go back to your measly 6 ounces a day, starving your cells for water.
Slow and steady.
Dislike water? Try eating water dense fruits like watermelons, cucumbers, or cantaloupe. You can add fruit to water as well. Get a pitcher of water in the fridge and quarter an apple, pear, and a lemon or two and put it in there. You can continue adding water to that fruit mixture for a week or so.
Young Living has a variety Vitality Drops +electrolytes and essential oils that you can add to your water to spruce things up. Stay clear of adding anything that has sugar or dyes. Totally defeats the purpose and can do more harm than good.
Bottom line, drink your water.
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